Netherlands (TGW) – The avalanche effect by electrons in fact does occur in specific, very small semiconducting crystals, according to researchers TU Delft in the Netherlands. This discovery could pave the way for cheap, high-output solar cells.





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One possible improvement to current solar cells could be solar cells manufactured from semiconducting extremely small crystals. Conventional solar cells can produce exactly one light particle (a photon) can release exactly one energy particle (an electron).In some semiconducting crystals, however, one photon can release two or three electrons, hence the term avalanche effect. According to the researchers, solar cells with these crystals can be manufactured relatively cheaply.This could theoretically lead to solar cell efficiency of 44%, much higher than today’s solar cell’s. The current record for solar cell efficiency is 42.8%, but the average efficiency for commercial solar cells is around 14-19% Via :: Press Release