Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The Shockley-Queisser Argument as the Limiting Case of a More Accurate Theory

  • Conference paper
Tenth E.C. Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference

  • 23 Accesses

Abstract

It is shown that the familiar Shockley-Queisser argument for an efficiency factor of an ideal solar cell under 4π-illumination is obtained from a more accurate theory in the limit when the radiation from the cell can be neglected. It is also shown that the voltage yielding maximum power efficiency, for given band gap and temperature, is simply related to the Carnot factor connecting pump (i.e. source) and the sink (i.e. cell) temperatures.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 74.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. A. De Vos and H. Pauwels, “On the thermodynamic limit of solar energy conversion”, Applied Physics 25 119, 1981.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. P. Würfel, “The chemical potential of radiation”, J. Phys. C 15 3967, 1982.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. P.T. Landsberg, “Non-equilibrium concepts in solar energy conversion”, in Energy Transfer Processes in Condensed Matter (Ed. B. di Bartolo, New York: Plenum, 1984, p.537.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  4. P. Baruch, “A two-level system as a model for a photovoltaic solar cell”, J. App. Phys. 57 1347, 1985.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. D. Trivich and P. Flinn, “Maximum efficiency of solar energy conversion by quantum processes”, in Solar Energy research, (Eds. F. Daniels and J. Duffie, Thames and Hudson, 1955), p.143,

    Google Scholar 

  6. W. Shockley and H. Queisser, “Detailed balance limit of efficiency of p-n junction solar cells”, J. App. Phys. 32 510, 1961,

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Mathematical Studies, University, Southampton, UK

    P. T. Landsberg

  2. Laboratorium voor elektronika en meettechniek, State University of Gent, Belgium

    A. De Vos

  3. Groupe de Physique des Solides, associé au CRNS, Université Paris 7, France

    P. Baruch

Authors
  1. P. T. Landsberg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. De Vos
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P. Baruch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Universidad Politécnica, Madrid, Spain

    A. Luque  & G. Sala  & 

  2. Commission of the European Communities, Brussels, Belgium

    W. Palz

  3. Secretaria de Estado da Energia, Lisbon, Portugal

    G. Dos Santos

  4. WIP, Munich, F.R. Germany

    P. Helm

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1991 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this paper

Cite this paper

Landsberg, P.T., De Vos, A., Baruch, P. (1991). The Shockley-Queisser Argument as the Limiting Case of a More Accurate Theory. In: Luque, A., Sala, G., Palz, W., Dos Santos, G., Helm, P. (eds) Tenth E.C. Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-3622-8_349

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-3622-8_349

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-5607-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-3622-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation