Detailed Balance (DB) Charts

Figures last updated on December 21, 2022 by Daphne Dekker.
Please contact us with your new record-efficiency solar cell data at d.dekker@amolf.nl.

The figures shown below provide an up-to-date comparison between world-record solar cell efficiencies for different materials and the fundamental detailed balance efficiency limit.

These plots may be used with attribution to both this website (lmpv.amolf.nl/db) and the following article:
Photovoltaic materials – present efficiencies and future challenges
A. Polman, M. Knight, E.G. Garnett, B. Ehrler, and W.C. Sinke, Science 352, 307 (2016). DOI: 10.1126/science.aad4424.

Download all figures with 600 dpi resolution HERE

Efficiencies relative to the detailed balance limit

Fraction of the detailed-balance limit (black line) achieved by record-efficiency cells, gray lines showing 75% and 50% of the limit.

Optical and electrical fractions

The current ratio j = J_sc/ J_DB plotted versus the product of the voltage and fill factor fractions (v x f = FF V_oc / FF_DB V_DB) for record-efficiency cells. The lines around some data points correspond to a range of band gaps taken in the detailed balance calculations according to uncertainty in the band gap of the record cell.

Current, voltage, and FF

Single-junction solar cell parameters are shown as a function of band gap energy according to the detailed balance limit (solid lines) and experimental values for record-efficiency cells. Panel 1: Short-circuit current J_sc. Panel 2: Open-circuit voltage V_oc. The voltage corresponding to the band gap is shown for reference, with the voltage gap V_g–V_DB indicated by the gray shaded region. Panel 3: Fill factor FF = (J_mpV_mp)/(V_ocJ_sc). All data are for standard AM1.5 illumination at 1000 W/m².

Optical and electrical fractions for selected tandem solar cells

The current ratio j = J_sc/ J_DB plotted versus the product of the voltage and fill factor fractions (v x f = FF V_oc / FF_DB V_DB) for record-efficiency cells. The labels correspond to the top//bottom subcell materials of the tandem cell.

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References for record-efficiency cells in the updated figures

Crystalline silicon

• Performance parameters (efficiency 26.8%) (updated December 2022):
  Solar cell efficiency tables (version 61)
  M. A. Green et al., Prog. Photovolt: Res. Appl. 31, 3-16 (2022).
• Cell fabrication:
  LONGi once again sets new world record for HJT solar cell efficiency
  LONGi News Release (24 June 2022).

Multicrystalline silicon

• Performance parameters (efficiency 23.8%) (updated July 2020):
  Solar cell efficiency tables (version 56)
  M. A. Green et al., Prog. Photovolt: Res. Appl. 28, 629– 638 (2020).
• Cell fabrication
  CANADIAN SOLAR SETS A 23.81% CONVERSION EFFICIENCY WORLD RECORD FOR N-TYPE LARGE AREA MULTI-CRYSTALLINE SILICON SOLAR CELL
  GUELPH, Ontario, Mar. 06, 2020 /PRNewswire/Canadian Solar Inc.

Amorphous silicon

• Performance parameters (efficiency 10.2%) (original, April 2016):
  Solar cell efficiency tables (version 45)
  M. A. Green et al., Prog. Photovolt: Res. Appl. 23, 1-9 (2014).
• Cell fabrication:
  Development of Highly Stable and Efficient Amorphous Silicon Based Solar Cells
  T. Matsui et al., Proc. 28th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference, 2213–2217 (2013).

Nanocrystalline silicon

• Performance parameters (efficiency 11.9%) (updated September 2017):
  Solar cell efficiency tables (version 50)
  M. A. Green et al., Prog. Photovolt: Res. Appl. 25, 668-676 (2017).
• Cell fabrication:
  High-efficiency microcrystalline silicon solar cells on honeycomb textured substrates grown with high-rate VHF plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition
  H. Sai et al., Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. 54, 08KB05 (2015).

GaAs 

• Performance parameters (efficiency 29.1%) (updated June 2019):
  Solar cell efficiency tables (version 53)
  M. A. Green et al., Prog. Photovolt: Res. Appl. 27, 3-12 (2019).
• Cell fabrication:
  Highly efficient GaAs solar cells by limiting light emission angle
  E. D. Kosten et al., Light Sci. Appl. 2, e45 (2013).

InP

• Performance parameters (efficiency 24.2%) (updated September 2017):
  Solar cell efficiency tables (version 50)
  M. A. Green et al., Prog. Photovolt: Res. Appl. 25, 668-676 (2017).
• Cell fabrication:
  Advanced Ultra High Performance InP Solar Cells
  NREL Technology (23 June 2016).

GaInP

• Performance parameters (efficiency 22.0%) (updated October 2019):
  Solar cell efficiency tables (version 54)
  M. A. Green et al., Prog. Photovolt: Res. Appl. 27, 565-575 (2019).
• Cell fabrication:
  NREL, private communication, 22 May 2019. (according to M. A. Green et al., Prog. Photovolt: Res. Appl. 27, 565-575 (2019))

CdTe

• Performance parameters (efficiency 21.5%) (updated February 2017):
  Solar cell efficiency tables (version 46)
  M. A. Green et al., Prog. Photovolt: Res. Appl. 23, 805–812 (2015).
• Cell fabrication:
  First Solar raises bar for CdTe with 21.5% efficiency record
  PV Magazine (6 February 2015).
• Highest reported record (efficiency 22.1%) (not updated due to lack of specific bandgap):
  First Solar Achieves Yet Another Cell Conversion Efficiency World Record
  First Solar Press Release (23 February 2016).

CIGS

• Performance parameters (efficiency 23.4%) (updated October 2019):
  Solar cell efficiency tables (version 54)
  M. A. Green et al., Prog. Photovolt: Res. Appl. 27, 565-575 (2019).
• Cell fabrication:
  Solar Frontier Achieves World Record Thin-Film Solar Cell
  Efficiency of 23.35%
  Solar Frontier Press Release (17 January 2019).

CZTSSe

• Performance parameters (efficiency 13.6%) (updated August 2022):
  Solar cell efficiency tables (version 60)
  M. A. Green et al., Prog. Photovolt: Res. Appl. 30, 687-701 (2022).

Dye/TiO₂

• Performance parameters (efficiency 12.25%) (updated April 2020):
  Solar cell efficiency tables (version 55)
  M. A. Green et al., Prog. Photovolt: Res. Appl. 28, 3-15 (2020).
• Cell fabrication:
  No specifics were stated/found

Organic

• Performance parameters (efficiency 18.2%) (updated December 2020):
  Solar cell efficiency tables (version 57)
  M. A. Green et al., Prog. Photovolt. Res. Appl. 28, 1-13 (2020).

Quantum-dots

• Performance parameters and cell fabrication (efficiency 16.6%) (updated July 2020):
  Ligand-assisted cation-exchange engineering for high-efficiency colloidal Cs1−xFAxPbI3 quantum dot solar cells with reduced phase segregation
  Hao, M., Bai, Y., Zeiske, S. et al., Nat. Energy 5, 79–88 (2020).

Perovskite

• Performance parameters (efficiency 25.7%) (updated August 2022):
  Solar cell efficiency tables (version 60)
  M. A. Green et al., Prog. Photovolt: Res. Appl. 30, 687-701 (2022).
• Cell fabrication:
  Stable perovskite solar cells with efficiency exceeding 24.8% and 0.3-V voltage loss
  M. Jeong et al., Science 369, 1615 (2020).

Antimony Selenosulfide (SbSSe)

• Performance parameters and cell fabrication (efficiency 10.10%) (included July 2020):
  Hydrothermal deposition of antimony selenosulfide thin films enables solar cells  with 10% efficiency
  R. Tang, X. Wang, W. Lian et al., Nat. Energy (2020).

Tandem Solar Cells

Perovskite – Silicon

• Performance parameters (efficiency 32.5%) (updated December 2022):
  HZB News Release (19 December 22)

Perovskite – CIGS

• Performance parameters (efficiency 24.2%) (included July 2020):
  Solar cell efficiency tables (version 57)
  A. Green et al., Prog. Photovolt. Res. Appl. 28, 1-13 (2020).

Perovskite – Perovskite

• Performance parameters (efficiency 28.0%) (included August 2022):
  Solar cell efficiency tables (version 60)
  M. A. Green et al., Prog. Photovolt: Res. Appl. 30, 687-701 (2022).
• Cell fabrication:
  Monolithic all-perovskite tandem solar cells with 24.8% efficiency exploiting comproportionation to suppress Sn(II) oxidation in precursor ink
  Lin et al., Nat. Energy 4, 864 (2020).

GaAsP – Si

• Performance parameters (efficiency 23.4%) (included July 2020):
  Solar cell efficiency tables (version 57)
  A. Green et al., Prog. Photovolt. Res. Appl. 28, 1-13 (2020).
• Cell fabrication:
  GaAs₇₅P_0.25/Si Dual-Junction Solar Cells Grown by MBE and MOCVD
  T. Grassman, IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics 6, 326 (2020).

GaInP – GaAs

• Performance parameters (efficiency 32.8%) (included July 2020):
  Solar cell efficiency tables (version 57)
  A. Green et al., Prog. Photovolt. Res. Appl. 28, 1-13 (2020).

Perovskite – Organic

• Performance parameters (efficiency 23.4%) (included August 2022):
  Solar cell efficiency tables (version 60)
  M. A. Green et al., Prog. Photovolt: Res. Appl. 30, 687-701 (2022).
• Cell fabrication
  Monolithic perovskite/organic tandem solar cells with 23.6% efficiency enabled by reduced voltage losses and optimized interconnecting layer
  W. Chen et al., Nat Energy 7, 229-237 (2022).

Organic – Organic

• Performance parameters (efficiency 19.5%) (included August 2022):
  A Tandem Organic Photovoltaic Cell with 19.6% Efficiency Enabled by Light Distribution Control
  J. Wang et al., Adv. Matter 33, 2102787 (2021).
• Cell fabrication
  A Tandem Organic Photovoltaic Cell with 19.6% Efficiency Enabled by Light Distribution Control
  J. Wang et al., Adv. Matter 33, 2102787 (2021).