Abstract
The application of upconversion (UC) as a means to improve the energy conversion efficiency of solar cells is reviewed. The theory of UC as applied to photovoltaic devices is revised within an equivalent circuit formalism. Three circuits are analyzed corresponding to the symmetric intermediate band and upconverting solar cells. The leading approaches to UC, rare earths and organic molecules, are described. UC efficiencies are defined, and achieved efficiencies of rare-earth and photochemical UC are compared. The future prospects of photochemical UC are discussed in the light of a kinetic model which reveals the parameters which currently limit the efficiency.
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