Scalable Ways to Break the Efficiency Limit of Single-Junction Solar Cells

Traditional silicon solar cells reach their efficiency limit, yet the massive upscaling of photovoltaics required to provide a significant contribution of solar power to the primary energy demand requires a further increase in the efficiency. The future of solar energy hinges on the development of scalable ways to overcome the efficiency limit for single-junction solar cells. In this special topic we collect leading research on ways to go beyond the current efficiency limits, with techniques that are (potentially) scalable, which means they lend themselves to cheap and easy processing, large-scale employment (km2), and have the potential for long-term stability. We will consider technologies that have the potential to be employed in the next few years (e.g. tandem solar cells) and also beyond that with techniques that are potentially even more powerful, yet further away from implementation (e.g. up- and downconversion). We welcome experimental contributions as well as modelling.

Guest Editors: Bruno Ehrler, Anita Ho-Baillie, Eline Hutter, Jovana Milic, Murad Tayebjee, and Mark Wilson