An Entropy Approach to a Practical Limit of the Efficiencies of Developed and Multijunction Solar Cells

Salama Abdelhady^*

Department of Energy Engineering, Aswan University, Aswan, Egypt.

DOI: 10.4236/jemaa.2014.613039                

Abstract

Following a previously introduced entropy approach and reviewing experimental measurements, we find a similarity option between photoelectric effects, photovoltaic effects and thermoelectric effects. The photovoltaic effect and the thermoelectric effect are proved in this study to be driven by a Seebeck effect which depends mainly on the thermal potential of the incident radiation and the interacting materials. Hence, we apply such exciting conclusion to derive an advanced efficiency limit of the developed and multijunction solar cells that exceed the previously derived limit by Shockley and Queisser.

Keywords

Electromagnetic Waves, Entropy, Thermoelectric Effect, Seebeck Effect, Photoelectric Effect, Photovoltaic Effect

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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