According to a report from the Physicist Organization Network on January 29 (Beijing time), scientists at the University of California, Davis, have used computer simulations to demonstrate that a unique "silicon BC8" structure can generate multiple electron-hole pairs from a single photon. This breakthrough could significantly boost the efficiency of solar cells. The findings were recently published in the journal *Physical Review Letters*.
Solar cells operate based on the photoelectric effect. When a photon hits a silicon crystal, it creates an electron and a positively charged hole. Collecting these pairs generates electricity. However, traditional solar cells only produce one electron-hole pair per photon, limiting their maximum theoretical efficiency to around 33%. The new method, however, allows for multiple pairs to be generated from a single photon, potentially increasing efficiency dramatically.
To explore this, researchers used the supercomputer at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to simulate the behavior of silicon BC8. This special form of silicon is created under high pressure but remains stable at normal conditions. The simulation showed that BC8 nanoparticles can generate several electron-hole pairs when exposed to visible light, which is a key step toward practical application.
Stephen Weiberman, the lead author of the study and a postdoctoral researcher, noted that this approach could push the maximum conversion efficiency of solar cells to 42%, surpassing current technologies. He added, "If we use parabolic mirrors to concentrate sunlight onto these new solar cells, we might even achieve efficiencies as high as 70%." This would mark a major leap forward in renewable energy technology.
However, there are still challenges. Current models using silicon BC8 only work under ultraviolet light, not visible light. But recent research from Harvard and MIT suggests that applying laser or chemical pressure to standard silicon solar cells could create BC8 nanocrystals locally. This opens up the possibility of upgrading existing solar panels with this advanced material, making high-efficiency solar cells more accessible in the future.
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