Search
Menu
Hamamatsu Corp. - Earth Innovations LB 2/24

Solar Efficiency of Black Silicon Doubled

Facebook X LinkedIn Email
BERLIN, Oct. 2, 2012 — A solar material that takes advantage of a spectrum totally unused by standard cells could be the key to more efficient photovoltaics, now that a team in Germany has successfully doubled its efficiency. Solar cells convert three-quarters of the energy in the sun’s spectrum into electricity, but about a quarter of its spectrum — the infrared — is lost in standard solar cells. Black silicon cells, however, are specifically designed to absorb nearly all of the sunlight that hits them, including IR radiation. “Black silicon is produced by irradiating standard...Read full article

Related content from Photonics Media



    Articles


    Products


    Photonics Handbook Articles


    White Papers


    Webinars


    Photonics Dictionary Terms


    Media


    Photonics Buyers' Guide Categories


    Companies
    Published: October 2012
    Glossary
    conduction band
    A partially filled or empty energy band through which electrons can move easily. The material can therefore carry an electric current. The term is usually applied to semiconductors.
    photonics
    The technology of generating and harnessing light and other forms of radiant energy whose quantum unit is the photon. The science includes light emission, transmission, deflection, amplification and detection by optical components and instruments, lasers and other light sources, fiber optics, electro-optical instrumentation, related hardware and electronics, and sophisticated systems. The range of applications of photonics extends from energy generation to detection to communications and...
    atomic latticeBasic Scienceblack siliconblack silicon solar cellsCommunicationsconduction bandelectronsenergyEuropeFraunhofer HHIFraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications Heinrich-Hertz-InstitutFraunhofer Project Group for Fiber Optical Sensor SystemsGermanygreen photonicsinfrared radiationinfrared spectrum absorptionlaser pulsesLasersNanomaterials for Energy ConversionphotonicsResearch & TechnologySensors & Detectorssolar cell efficiencysolar cell productionsolar cellssolar energy conversionStefan Kontermannsulfur atoms

    We use cookies to improve user experience and analyze our website traffic as stated in our Privacy Policy. By using this website, you agree to the use of cookies unless you have disabled them.