title: Photovoltaic materials: Present efficiencies and future challenges.
abstract: Recent developments in photovoltaic materials have led to continual improvements in their efficiency. We review the electrical characteristics of 16 widely studied geometries of photovoltaic materials with efficiencies of 10 to 29%. Comparison of these characteristics to the fundamental limits based on the Shockley-Queisser detailed-balance model provides a basis for identifying the key limiting factors, related to efficient light management and charge carrier collection, for these materials. Prospects for practical application and large-area fabrication are discussed for each material.
authors.affiliation: Center for Nanophotonics, FOM Institute AMOLF, Science Park 104, 1098 XG Amsterdam, Netherlands. a.polman@amolf.nl.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Polman
authors.affiliation: Center for Nanophotonics, FOM Institute AMOLF, Science Park 104, 1098 XG Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Knight
authors.affiliation: Center for Nanophotonics, FOM Institute AMOLF, Science Park 104, 1098 XG Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Erik C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Garnett
authors.affiliation: Center for Nanophotonics, FOM Institute AMOLF, Science Park 104, 1098 XG Amsterdam, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ehrler
authors.affiliation: Center for Nanophotonics, FOM Institute AMOLF, Science Park 104, 1098 XG Amsterdam, Netherlands. Energy Research Center of the Netherlands (ECN), P.O. Box 1, Petten, Netherlands.
authors.forename: Wim C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Sinke