The new paradigm of photovoltaics: From powering satellites to powering humanity

Publication date: Available online 2 October 2017 Source:Comptes Rendus Physique Author(s): Daniel Lincot The photovoltaic effect has been discovered by Edmond Becquerel in 1839. Then it took 115 years to make the first efficient solar cell, with a few watts produced, about 50 years to deploy 3 GW of production capacity worldwide, and only 13 years to reach 300 GW in 2016. 500 GW are expected in 2020, and the TW within the next decade. How did this occur? How photovoltaics work? What is the physical limit of conversion efficiency? What road map for photovoltaics in the energy transition? This paper aims at providing a review and discussion of these aspects, from the historical background to the state of the art and the emerging devices and concepts.
Source: Comptes Rendus Physique - Category: Physics Source Type: research