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Events
Past and forthcoming events |
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| IMEC vzw |
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| IMEC Seminar : Thermodynamic upper bounds for the efficiency of solar cells |
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| Event Start date: 23 Jun 2003 |
| Event End date: 23 Jun 2003 |
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On 23/06/2003, Alexis De Vos from the Vakgroep voor elektronica en informatiesystemen of the Universiteit van Gent, will give a seminar entitled:
'Thermodynamic upper bounds for the efficiency of solar cells'
Abstract:
The Sun is a body at a temperature of 5762 Kelvin; the Earth is a body at 288 K.
If we introduce (without thinking) these numbers into Carnot's formula, then we find an efficiency = 1 - 288/5762 = 95 %. However, the efficiency of a solar cell is calculated quite differently: we calculate a short-circuit current, we calculate an open-circuit voltage and finally we make the (difficult) computation of a fill factor. Nowhere Carnot's formula is involved; moreover we usually find quite less than 95 %.
What in fact is the relationship between Carnot's theory and solar cell theory?
How close can we come to Carnot's efficiency?
What is the structure which yields the highest efficiency?
These questions automatically bring us in contact with:
- the tandem solar cell
- the impact-ionisation solar cell
- the impurity solar cell
- and possible other topical concepts
Practical details:
Location : IMEC Auditorium, Kapeldreef 75, B-3001 Heverlee, Belgium
Contact : Bart De Mey
IMEC vzw
Kapeldreef 75
B-3001 Heverlee
Belgium
Visit the IMEC website :IMEC
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 Email to author |
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| Article Id: | 62050 | | Event Start date: | 23 Jun 2003 | | Event End date: | 23 Jun 2003 |
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