Detectors & Imaging

Photoelectric photovoltaics -- a new approach to solar power, as of now only theory

Dec. 7, 2017

Inert gas between a transparent top anode and a bottom photocathode of undetermined type could act as a solar cell.

University of Warwick researchers Gavin Bell and Yorck Ramachers oversee some lab hardware.

The photoelectric effect, in which light impinging on certain materials causes emission of photoelectrons from the material, led Albert Einstein to hypothesize the quantization of the photon, earning him his only Nobel Prize. Now, two researchers at the University of Warwick (Coventry, England) have proposed a new type of photovoltaic cell based on the photoelectric effect.¹

The cell would have a form similar to that of a thin double-glazed window, with inert gas filling the gap. The top vane would be a transparent anodic conductor, which the bottom would be coated with a photosensitive material that acts as photocathode, becoming a source of electrons (electrical current) under illumination by sunlight.

Now, to find the right photocathode

The optimal material for the photosensitive layer still needs to be identified, and the researchers have proposed a range of candidate materials, including thin films of diamond, which would be very robust and long-lasting. The transparency of the photocathode could be varied, leading to the possibility of tinted windows generating solar power.

While the theoretical maximum efficiency of such a device is 57%, practical limitations, mainly the material properties of the anode and photocathode, would cause the actual efficiency to be lower.

The researchers would like the scientific community to think about potential optimal materials. "We think the materials challenge is really critical here so we wanted to encourage the materials science community to get creative," says Gavin Bell, a physicist at the University of Warwick. "Our device is radically different from standard photovoltaics, and can even be adapted for other green technologies such as turning heat directly into electricity, so we hope this work will inspire new advances."

Source: https://warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/solar_power_advances/

REFERENCE:

1. Gavin R. Bell and Yorck A. Ramachers, Joule (2017); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2017.11.007

About the Author

John Wallace | Senior Technical Editor (1998-2022)

John Wallace was with Laser Focus World for nearly 25 years, retiring in late June 2022. He obtained a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering and physics at Rutgers University and a master's in optical engineering at the University of Rochester. Before becoming an editor, John worked as an engineer at RCA, Exxon, Eastman Kodak, and GCA Corporation.