Avalanche effect to bring cheaper solar cells?
Researchers at the Technical University of Delft and the FOM Foundation for Fundamental Research on Matter claim to have found ‘irrefutable proof’ that the so called avalanche effect by electrons occurs in specific, very small semiconducting crystals of lead selenide. The effect could pave the way for cheap, high output solar cells.
TU Delft’s Professor Laurens Siebbeles, pictured, believes this research paves the way for further unravelling the secrets of the avalanche effect.
In conventional solar cells, one photon releases one electron. In some semiconducting nanocrystals, however, one photon can release two or three electrons. This could theoretically lead to a maximum output of 44% in a solar cell comprising the correct semiconducting nanocrystals. The researchers also believe these solar cells could be manufactured relatively cheaply.
