Reaching optimal efficiencies using nano-sized photo-electric devices

Abstract

We study the thermodynamic efficiency of a nano-sized photo-electric device and show that at maximum power output, the efficiency is bounded from above by a result closely related to the Curzon-Ahlborn efficiency. We find that this upper bound can be attained in nano-sized devices displaying strong coupling between the generated electron flux and the incoming photon flux from the sun.

5 pages, 3 figures

References in corpus (3)

• Current induced light emission and light induced current in molecular tunneling junctions
• Optical properties of current carrying molecular wires
• Tight coupling in thermal Brownian motors

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