Ideal Solar Cell Efficiencies

Abstract

In a recent paper, Guillemoles et al [J.F. Guillemoles, T. Kirchartz, D. Cahen and U Rau, Guide for the perplexed to the Shockley-Queisser model for solar cells, Nat. Photonics, 13, 501 (2019)] attempt to clarify and explain the often cited paper by Shockley and Queisser (SQ) which defines the limits to photovoltaic conversion by a single-junction solar cell. The SQ paper is not easy to read and is therefore easily misunderstood. As modern solar cells approach theoretical efficiency limits, the fundamentals become particularly important and the effort by Guillemoles et al is therefore to be welcome. However, in doing so, the authors have fallen into several pitfalls and the aim of the present note is to clarify a number of misconceptions and correct some errors in that paper.