Maximum efficiency of state-space models of nanoscale energy conversion devices

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Author list: Einax M, Nitzan A

Publisher: American Institute of Physics

Place: MELVILLE

Publication year: 2016

Journal: The Journal of Chemical Physics (0021-9606)

Journal acronym: J CHEM PHYS

Volume number: 145

Issue number: 1

Number of pages: 8

ISSN: 0021-9606

eISSN: 1089-7690

Languages: English-Great Britain (EN-GB)

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Abstract

The performance of nano-scale energy conversion devices is studied in the framework of state-space models where a device is described by a graph comprising states and transitions between them represented by nodes and links, respectively. Particular segments of this network represent input ( driving) and output processes whose properly chosen flux ratio provides the energy conversion efficiency. Simple cyclical graphs yield Carnot efficiency for the maximum conversion yield. We give general proof that opening a link that separate between the two driving segments always leads to reduced efficiency. We illustrate these general result with simple models of a thermoelectric nanodevice and an organic photovoltaic cell. In the latter an intersecting link of the above type corresponds to non-radiative carriers recombination and the reduced maximum efficiency is manifested as a smaller open-circuit voltage. Published by AIP Publishing.

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