The Opto-Electronic Physics Which Just Broke the Efficiencey Record in Solar Cells

Colloquium | September 17 | 4:15-5:30 p.m. | LeConte Hall, Room #1

Speaker: Eli Yablonovitch, Professor of Physical Electronics and Director of the NSF Center for Energy Efficient Electronics Sience, UC Berkeley

Sponsor: Department of Physics

Solar Cells are an enjoyable playground for Statistical Physics. We are finally approaching the Shockley-Queisser (SQ) limit for single junction solar cell ~33.5% efficiency under the standard solar spectrum. Previously, the record had been stuck at 25.1%, during 1990-2007. Why then the 8% discrepancy between the theoretical limit 33.5% versus the previously achieved efficiency?

Counter-intuitively, efficient external fluorescence is a necessity for approaching the ultimate limits. Now new efficiency records are being broken. Alta Devices Inc., has reached 28.8%. A great Solar Cell also needs to be a great Light Emitting Diode.

Target audiences: Faculty, Friends of the University, General Public, Students - Graduate, Students - Prospective, Students - Undergraduate

Open to audience: All Audiences

Event Contact: switt@berkeley.edu, 510-642-3034