How can we improve solar cell efficiency?
With improved solar cell efficiency, the future photovoltaics could be built with lesser material. Image: REUTERS
Harvesting more power by splitting high-energy photons in two is a near-term possibility, says Richard Friend, Professor of Physics at the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge.
Improving solar cell efficiency with quantum mechanics
In this video for the World Economic Forum's IdeasLab series, Friend discusses how quantum mechanics could improve solar cell efficiency, explaining that there is longer-term potential to develop technologies that can manufacture photovoltaics using less material.
He also says the developing world may win the race to embrace solar power: "And it may well be that it’s there that big changes happen.”
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