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Abstract
Silicon photovoltaics (PV) dominate the solar energy industry. And with good reason. They are reliable, inexpensive, and mature technologies. However, silicon PV is also approaching its thermodynamic solar energy conversion limit. As a result, PV research and development is turning towards silicon tandem devices.
In this presentation I will introduce one such device: the singlet fission silicon tandem. Singlet fission is a process that occurs in molecular materials that allows for the generation of two electron-hole pairs from the absorption of a single high energy photon. The thermodynamic limiting efficiency of such a device is 42% under standard illumination. Our research group, OMEGA Silicon (https://www.omegasilicon.solar/), is dedicated to making such a device commercially viable.
I will first introduce the differences between the two classes of absorbers: molecular and inorganic. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Then, I will show how a singlet fission silicon tandem can exploit the advantages of both classes of materials and, eventually, bring about a new generation of PV.
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Brief Bio
Dr Murad Tayebjee is an ARC Future Fellow at SPREE and Deputy Leader of OMEGA Silicon. He was awarded his PhD in physical chemistry from The University of Sydney in 2012. He then undertook two consecutive fellowships: an ARENA Fellowship at UNSW and a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship at The University of Cambridge.
Dr Tayebjee leads the Spectre Research Group (SPECTroscopy for Renewable Energy), studying methods of efficient solar energy harvesting and renewable energy education.
