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3D photovoltaic

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Sun, 2012-09-09 13:26
#1
athanasius athanasius's picture
3D photovoltaic
A new 3D photovoltaic cell, can we obtain 100% visual-UV efficiency (i know 99,9...%)? http://www.bitsofscience.org/3d-solar-cell-energy-efficiency-6206/
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Mon, 2012-09-10 01:33
NewtonPulsifer NewtonPulsifer's picture
You're limited by Carnot
You're limited by Carnot efficiency with photovoltaics. With a 6000 Kelvin photon temperature and 300 Kelvin cell temperature you get 95% for a heat engine modified down to 93.33% for solar because you have to make a slight adjustment. That solar3d cell is 25.4% which is great for silicon. In practice 90% of the Carnot limit is the best you'll see on anything, even with EP tech. So something like 84% is the practicable limit.
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"I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve."- Isoroku Yamamoto
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