Counterintuitive "LED-type" solar cell breaks efficiency record
Researchers at the University of California-Berkeley claim to have hit upon a counterintuitive means of boosting the efficiency of flatplate solar cells by making them emit light. "What we demonstrated is that the better a solar cell is at emitting photons, the higher its voltage and the greater the efficiency it can produce," said principal researcher, UC Berkeley Professor of Electrical Engineering Eli Yablonovitch. To briefly recap the mechanism behind the photovoltaic effect itself, photons from some external light source (the sun, preferably) entering a solar cell excite the electrons in the semiconductor into higher energy states. This frees them from confinement so that they can convey current. (The charge itself is created by using two materials. Free electrons find it easier to move in one direction between the materials, creating a negative charge in one and a positive charge in the other.) Read the comments on this post
Counterintuitive "LED-type" solar cell breaks efficiency record
When you think of a solar cell, you probably think of something designed to absorb as much sunlight as possible. What you probably don't think of is something that is also capable of emitting ...
Tue 24 Apr 12 from Gizmag
The solar cell that also shines: Luminescent 'LED-type' design breaks efficiency record
To produce the maximum amount of energy, solar cells are designed to absorb as much light from the Sun as possible. Now researchers from the University of California, Berkeley, have suggested ...
Thu 19 Apr 12 from Phys.org
LED-Like Solar Cells Break Efficiency Record, Fri 20 Apr 12 from Laboratory Equipment
The solar cell that also shines: Luminescent 'LED-type' design breaks efficiency record, Thu 19 Apr 12 from e! Science News
Solar cell that also shines: Luminescent 'LED-type' design breaks efficiency record, Thu 19 Apr 12 from ScienceDaily
The solar cell that also shines: Luminescent 'LED-type' design breaks efficiency record, Thu 19 Apr 12 from Eurekalert
Quirky solar cell sets new efficiency record
Increased light emission boosts cell performance
Thu 26 Apr 12 from Physics World
Solar cells must emit light to attain perfection, research suggests
Researchers at the University of California-Berkeley claim to have hit upon a counterintuitive means of boosting the efficiency of flatplate solar cells by making them emit light. "What we demonstrated ...
Wed 25 Apr 12 from Arstechnica
Photovoltaic cell concept could boost voltage and efficiency
Researchers have created photovoltaic cells designed like LEDs to emit light as well as absorb it.
Thu 26 Apr 12 from The Engineer
Luminescent LED-type solar cell design breaks efficiency record
Theoretically, a solar cell can achieve 33.5% efficiency under ideal conditions, but until now researchers had hit only 26%. This past year, a company called Alta Devices acted on the theory ...
Fri 20 Apr 12 from R&D Mag
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