Power conversion efficiency (commonly abbreviated as PCE) is a fundamental dimensionless photovoltaic performance metric defined as the ratio between the maximum electrical output power generated by a photovoltaic device and the incident optical input power striking the active device area under well‑defined illumination, temperature, and spectral test conditions [1][2]. It quantifies the fractional capability of a solar‑cell device to transform incoming radiant solar energy into usable direct‑current electrical power, conventionally reported as a percentage value [3]. This parameter is dependent on intrinsic material optoelectronic characteristics, device layer architecture, and external operating conditions including irradiance magnitude, ambient temperature, and incident light spectrum [4][5]. Power conversion efficiency is mathematically derived from three core device figures‑of‑merit: open‑circuit voltage, short‑circuit current density, and fill factor, and it serves as the primary comparative benchmark for evaluating and classifying different photovoltaic absorber materials and solar‑cell configurations [2][6].
- Open‑circuit voltage
- Short‑circuit current density
- Perovskite solar cell
- Standard test conditions
Energy Efficiency and Management • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment • Energy • Physical Sciences
References
- Green, M.A., Hishikawa, Y., Dunlop, E.D., Levi, D.H., Hohl-Ebinger, J., Yoshita, M., Ho-Baillie, A.W.Y.; Solar cell efficiency tables (Version 53). Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications 2019, 27, 3–12, https://doi.org/10.1002/pip.3102.
- ISO 15387:2005, Space systems — Single‑junction solar cells — Measurement procedures. Space systems — Single‑junction solar cells — Measurement procedures. Retrieved 2026-9-11 [CrossRef]
- Bhojak, V.; Jain, P.K.; Theoretical Analysis of Power Conversion Efficiency of Lead-Free Double-Perovskite Cs2TiBr6 Solar Cells with Different Hole Transport Layers. Eng 2025, 6, 28, https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4117/6/2/28.
- Al Atem, M.; Makableh, Y.; Towards Sustainable Perovskite Solar Cells: Lead-Free High Efficiency Designs with Tin and Germanium. Eng 2025, 6, 38, https://www.mdpi.com/2673-4117/6/2/38.
- Al Atem, M.; Makableh, Y.; Arnaout, M.; Analytical Solutions for Current–Voltage Properties of PSCs and Equivalent Circuit Approximation. Eng 2025, 6, 62, https://doi.org/10.3390/eng6040062.
- Elumalai, N.K.; Mahmud, M.A.; Wang, D.; Uddin, A.; Perovskite Solar Cells: Progress and Advancements. Energies 2016, 9, 861, https://doi.org/10.3390/en9110861.