Engineering Can the efficiency of a solar cell with a single band gap reach 100%?

AI Thread Summary
The efficiency of a solar cell with a single band gap cannot reach 100% due to the limitations imposed by the photoelectric effect, where the energy of the photon must match the band-gap energy. A single band gap restricts the absorption of a broader spectrum of sunlight, which means not all photons can be effectively converted into electricity. The solar spectrum is broad, encompassing a range of wavelengths rather than being narrowly centered around the band gap. This broad spectrum leads to energy losses, as photons with energy below the band gap cannot generate electricity, and those with excess energy lose that surplus as heat. Understanding these concepts is crucial for optimizing solar cell efficiency.
yecko
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Homework Statement
Can the efficiency of a solar cell with a single band gap reach 100%?
Relevant Equations
hf>Wg (band gap energy)
I have tried looking up online with the photoelectric effect, it just mentioned the energy of the photon must have to equal to band-gap energy.
Yet, it didn't mention if 100% can be reached in that case, or if a single bandgap makes any effect??

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/physics/chapter/29-2-the-photoelectric-effect/
https://www.e-education.psu.edu/eme812/node/534

I will have exam tomorrow, and I would like to clarify with the concept. Thank you very much.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
What does the solar spectrum look like? Is it very narrow, and centered near the band gap wavelength? Or is it very broad...?
 

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