An analysis of quantum coherent solar photovoltaic cells

作者：Kirk A P^*

来源：Physica B: Condensed Matter , 2012, 407(3): 544-546.

DOI：10.1016/j.physb.2011.11.037

• Photovoltaics
• Solar cell
• Quantum coherence
• Detailed balance
• Power conversion efficiency

A new hypothesis (Scully et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 108 (2011) 15097) suggests that it is possible to break the statistical physics-based detailed balance-limiting power conversion efficiency and increase the power output of a solar photovoltaic cell by using %26quot;noise-induced quantum coherence%26quot; to increase the current. The fundamental errors of this hypothesis are explained here. As part of this analysis, we show that the maximum photogenerated current density for a practical solar cell is a function of the incident spectrum, sunlight concentration factor, and solar cell energy bandgap and thus the presence of quantum coherence is irrelevant as it is unable to lead to increased current output from a solar cell.

• 出版日期2012-2-1