Optical modelling of the external quantum efficiency of solar cells with luminescent down-shifting layers

• Published in: Solar energy materials and solar cells Vol. 120; pp. 616 - 621
• Main Author: Rothemund, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.01.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Direct energy conversion and energy accumulation; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electrical power engineering; Energy; Equipments, installations and applications; Exact sciences and technology; External quantum efficiency; Luminescent down-shifting; Modules; Natural energy; Optical model; Photoelectric conversion; Photons; Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaic conversion; Photovoltaic module; Quantum efficiency; Solar cell; Solar cells; Solar cells. Photoelectrochemical cells; Solar energy; Spectra; Spectral conversion; Solar cell; Optical model; Photovoltaic module; External quantum efficiency; Spectral conversion; Luminescent down-shifting; Performance evaluation; Photovoltaic system; Solar spectrum; Experimental study; Quantum yield; Modeling; Screening; Photovoltaic array; Optical method; Figure of merit
• ISSN: 0927-0248; 1879-3398
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2013.10.004

Luminescent down-shifting (LDS) is an elegant, purely optical method to improve the short-wavelength response of photovoltaic (PV) modules by red-shifting the incident solar spectrum. This paper in a first step develops a simple optical model to investigate the effect of LDS layers on top of PV modules on their external quantum efficiency. A meaningful figure of merit is the LDS efficiency ηLDS which quantifies the efficiency of the LDS layer to down-shift absorbed photons and send them towards the underlying solar cell. The simplified optical model developed here, extracts LDS efficiencies from experimental quantum efficiency spectra, and thereby enables assessing the current status and future potential of LDS for various solar cell technologies. Our simplified LDS model is fast, easy-to-use and universally applicable to analyze experimental LDS results. Moreover, it is especially useful for screening candidate LDS materials. [Display omitted] •We model the experimental EQE of solar cells with luminescent down-shifting layers.•Optical modelling of the EQE yields the luminescent down-shifting (LDS) efficiency.•The model is fast, easy-to-use and universally applicable for various technologies.•The current status and future perspective of LDS for photovoltaics are assessed.