New Paradigm for Solar Energy Harvesting based on the Bulk Photovoltaic Effect: A Proof of Principle

The mitigation of climate change requires new, more efficient sources of clean, renewable energy. Sunlight is the most abundant and easily accessible source of energy on earth, but current technology is approaching the limit of its maximum theoretical efficiency. This seed project will develop a proof of principle for a new tandem solar cell based on the bulk photovoltaic effect (BPVE), a potentially transformative technology that would bypass fundamental efficiency limits of conventional photovoltaics by harvesting more of the solar spectrum. This solar technology has the potential to create twice as much current as a conventional solar panel, and be more readily miniaturized, helping to mitigate the climate impact of energy generation.