571 – Daily Problem

2/3/2017

Photovoltaic Devices

By,
Udit Gupta
We have been given a 1 sun AM 1.5 condition. The temperature is 300K and current density of
10-15 A/cm2. Using Figure 6 in the given text, we have been asked to find the theoretical
maximum efficiency for solar cells of the following band gaps: 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 eV. We
follow the following procedure:
For the given Eg value (on curve 1), we find the value for number of photons given on the
primary y-axis. For this value of number of photos, we find the value of Em from curve 2. We
have been give the area under curve 1 as 5.2 x 1017 eV/cm2/s. We know that the formula for
efficiency is:
Em∗nph
Efficiency =
Area under curve 1

Using this formula, we can calculate the maximum theoretical efficiency of the solar cells.
1.) Eg = 0.5 eV
From the graph, we get:
Nph = 3.6 x 1017 cm-2 s-1
For this value of Nph, we get Em = 0.2 eV.
Using the efficiency formula, we get efficiency = 13.8%

2.) Eg = 1.0 eV
From the graph, we get:
Nph = 2.6 x 1017 cm-2 s-1
For this value of Nph, we get Em = 0.6 eV.
Using the efficiency formula, we get efficiency = 30%

3.) Eg = 1.5 eV
From the graph, we get:
Nph = 1.4 x 1017 cm-2 s-1
For this value of Nph, we get Em = 1.1 eV.
Using the efficiency formula, we get efficiency = 29.6%

4.) Eg = 2.0 eV
From the graph, we get:
Nph = 0.7 x 1017 cm-2 s-1
For this value of Nph, we get Em = 1.5 eV.
Using the efficiency formula, we get efficiency = 20.2%