Solar cell utilization efficiency

What is spectrum utilization in solar cells?

Utilizing the complete solar spectrum effectively to increase cell efficiency is known as spectrum utilization in solar cells. The goal of this technique is to match the semiconductor material's absorption characteristics with the diverse solar spectrum, which includes wavelengths from ultraviolet (UV) through infrared (IR).

What is the power conversion efficiency of solar cells?

The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of solar cells is a measure of the output of electrical energy compared with the amount of input from solar photons. Although the PCE of multijunction solar cells has reached 47.1% 25, most commercial solar cells have a PCE of just ~20% 26.

What determines the efficiency and function of an advanced solar utilization device?

The efficiency and function of an advanced solar utilization device is determined by the performance of the materials employed. The development of charge-separated materials that can harvest and convert solar energy efficiently is challenging.

How efficient are solar cells?

Solar cells of this kind, characterized by reduced material usage, lower manufacturing costs, and flexibility, typically achieve conversion efficiencies ranging from 6% to 15% (Jaiswal et al., 2022).

How can spectral utilization be improved in solar cells?

Effective spectral utilization can be achieved by using a variety of methods, such as multiple junctions, intermediate band gaps, quantum dot spectral converters, luminescent down-shifting (LDS) layers, and up-conversion materials. Solar cell efficiency could be considerably increased by improving spectrum utilization.

How efficient are organic solar cells?

The efficiency of organic solar cells has significantly grown during the past few decades, reaching 19.2% (Chao et al., 2023). In 2023, Hyperbolic metamaterial (HMM) was applied in organic cells and the HMM-incorporated OSCs (HMM-OSCs) improved power conversion efficiency significantly (Grätzel, 2003).