Science1 hOctober 30, 2026, 17:47

ICFO scientists break solar cells' 33.7% Shockley-Queisser limit

Researchers at ICFO in Barcelona led by Jordi Martorell turned a solar cell into an optical cavity that limits photon emission, allowing it to exceed the 33.7% Shockley-Queisser limit. The approach could enable efficiencies near 43% without adding fabrication complexity.

BGR

Open source

Shockley-Queisser limit of 33.7% was defined in 1961
Limiting photon emission raises theoretical efficiency to about 43%
Cavity design adds no extra fabrication complexity
Commercial panels today reach less than 25% efficiency

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ICFO scientists break solar cells' 33.7% Shockley-Queisser limit

ICFO scientists cut Boltzmann loss in solar cells, opening path to 43% efficiency

Atomic motion could push solar cells beyond conventional limits

Tin-based perovskite solar cells slow heat loss 1,000-fold, could beat 33% limit

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