Scientific breakthrough increases solar cell efficiency to 43%
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Researchers from the Institute of Photonic Sciences in Barcelona have developed an innovative optical technique that could raise the theoretical limit of single-junction solar cell efficiency from about 33% to nearly 43%, by controlling the direction of light emission and reducing energy loss.
The technique relies on addressing what is known as "Boltzmann loss," which results from the difference between the directions of incoming sunlight into the cell and the emission directions of the photons generated within it, leading to a decline in energy conversion efficiency.
To overcome this problem, the team used an organic solar cell made from a blend of PM6:Y6 materials and added two silver electrodes to form an optical resonator that limits photon emission at wide angles while allowing sunlight to enter. This helps reduce energy loss and improve cell performance.
Lead researcher Francisco Bernal Tesca confirmed that the results represent a significant advancement in the field of solar energy conversion and open new horizons for exceeding the Shockley-Queisser limit, which is considered a theoretical benchmark for the efficiency of traditional single-junction solar cells.
One of the most prominent advantages of this strategy is that it may not require additional manufacturing complexities, and its principle is applicable to various types of photovoltaic cells, despite being tested on an organic cell in this study.
If successfully implemented in practice, the technique could contribute to producing larger amounts of electricity from the same area, reducing the consumption of materials and land required for solar power plants, as well as lowering the cost of electricity production.
