Photon recycling in heterojunction thin-film solar cells

Objective

The Helio-Carnot Club is investigating theoretically thin-film solar cell efficiencies. The idea is to obtain theoretical guidelines for the optimisation of these cells.


There is wide interest in Europe, notably in Germany, Belgium, France and the UK, in thin-film solar cells. Our collaboration, based on three of these countries, is analysing the heterojunction characteristics from a fundamental viewpoint. Thus phenomenological correction factors to all characteristics are interpreted in terms of more fundamental properties (eg recombination properties). In this way efficiency curves can be obtained as a function of energy gaps, surface and bulk recombination rates, band gap discontinuities, etc. Such curves indicate answers to design questions as to what has to be done to obtain the best efficiencies.

Fields of science

• engineering and technology › environmental engineering › waste management › waste treatment processes › recycling
• natural sciences › physical sciences › theoretical physics › particle physics › photons

Programme(s)

• FP3-JOULE 2 - Specific research and technological development programme (EEC) in the field of non-nuclear energy, 1990-1994

Topic(s)

• 0304 - Renewable energies for rural electricity, local fuel and water

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON

Address

University Road, Highfield
Southampton
United Kingdom

Participants (3)

UNIVERSITY OF WALES CARDIFF

United Kingdom

Address

CF1 3TH Carduff

UNIVERSITÉ DE PARIS VII DENIS DIDEROT

France

Address

Place Jussieu 2
75251 Paris

Universiteit Gent

Belgium

Address

41,sint-pietersnieuwstraat
9000 Gent