The figure to the right shows sunlight intensity as a function of wavelength. Answer the following questions about materials that could act as the absorber (p-type semiconductor) in a heterojunction solar cell. a.What advantage would there be in using a 1000-nm wavelength bandgap absorber vs. one that had a 400-nm wavelength bandgap? (HINT: the bandgap is the minimum energy required to promote electrons.) b. One reason the electron-volt (eV) is often used as the bandgap unit in solar cell research is that the bandgap in eV is also equal to the maximum voltage that can be generated by the solar cell. With this in mind, what advantage would there be in using a 400-nm wavelength bandgap absorber vs. one that had a 1000-nm wavelength bandgap? c.In light of your answers to (a) and (b), can there be one “best” bandgap to use in a solar cell?

Chemistry
10th Edition
ISBN:9781305957404
Author:Steven S. Zumdahl, Susan A. Zumdahl, Donald J. DeCoste
Publisher:Steven S. Zumdahl, Susan A. Zumdahl, Donald J. DeCoste
Chapter1: Chemical Foundations
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1RQ: Define and explain the differences between the following terms. a. law and theory b. theory and...
icon
Related questions
Question

The figure to the right shows sunlight intensity as a function of wavelength. Answer the following questions about materials that could act as the absorber (p-type semiconductor) in a heterojunction solar cell.

a.What advantage would there be in using a 1000-nm wavelength bandgap absorber vs. one that had a 400-nm wavelength bandgap? (HINT: the bandgap is the minimum energy required to promote electrons.)

b. One reason the electron-volt (eV) is often used as the bandgap unit in solar cell research is that the bandgap in eV is also equal to the maximum voltage that can be generated by the solar cell. With this in mind, what advantage would there be in using a 400-nm wavelength bandgap absorber vs. one that had a 1000-nm wavelength bandgap?

c.In light of your answers to (a) and (b), can there be one “best” bandgap to use in a solar cell? 

2.5
UV
visible
Infrared
m'nm
2.0
1.5
Solar Spectrum
outside atmosphere
1.0
0.5
0.0
1000
2000
wavelength (nm)
Spectral Irradiance
Transcribed Image Text:2.5 UV visible Infrared m'nm 2.0 1.5 Solar Spectrum outside atmosphere 1.0 0.5 0.0 1000 2000 wavelength (nm) Spectral Irradiance
Expert Solution
steps

Step by step

Solved in 6 steps with 1 images

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Properties of Solids
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, chemistry and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
Recommended textbooks for you
Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry
ISBN:
9781305957404
Author:
Steven S. Zumdahl, Susan A. Zumdahl, Donald J. DeCoste
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Chemistry
Chemistry
Chemistry
ISBN:
9781259911156
Author:
Raymond Chang Dr., Jason Overby Professor
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Education
Principles of Instrumental Analysis
Principles of Instrumental Analysis
Chemistry
ISBN:
9781305577213
Author:
Douglas A. Skoog, F. James Holler, Stanley R. Crouch
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Organic Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Chemistry
ISBN:
9780078021558
Author:
Janice Gorzynski Smith Dr.
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Education
Chemistry: Principles and Reactions
Chemistry: Principles and Reactions
Chemistry
ISBN:
9781305079373
Author:
William L. Masterton, Cecile N. Hurley
Publisher:
Cengage Learning
Elementary Principles of Chemical Processes, Bind…
Elementary Principles of Chemical Processes, Bind…
Chemistry
ISBN:
9781118431221
Author:
Richard M. Felder, Ronald W. Rousseau, Lisa G. Bullard
Publisher:
WILEY