Photons —drives→ Photovoltaic effect

Conditions

• photons from any source, including a thermal emitter, absorbed above the gap

Evidence · 2

1. [1]
   A. LaPotin, et al.. Thermophotovoltaic efficiency of 40% (2022)

   Nature 604, 287–291 · doi:10.1038/s41586-022-04473-y · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record
2. [2]
   W. Shockley, H. J. Queisser. Detailed balance limit of efficiency of p-n junction solar cells (1961)

   Journal of Applied Physics 32, 510–519 · doi:10.1063/1.1736034 · crossref ✓ 2026-09-19 · record

Related matrix context

This claim does not itself create a matrix cell. The context below belongs to Photovoltaic effect, the phenomenon it is about.

D = disequilibrium row · C = coupling family column. A cell reads the state of the atlas for that pair.

Uses of this claim

• Combustion-driven micro-thermophotovoltaic generatordemonstrated · 7 steps
• Radioluminescent (beta-photovoltaic) nuclear batterydemonstrated · 7 steps
• Thermophotovoltaic conversiondemonstrated · 5 steps

• Chemical potential difference → Combustion → Temperature gradient → Thermal emission → Photons → Photovoltaic effect → Electron–hole pairs → Electrical work7/7 established · extends a recorded pathway
• Electric potential difference → Peltier effect → Temperature gradient → Thermal emission → Photons → Photovoltaic effect → Electron–hole pairs → Electrical work7/7 established · same energy form
• Electric potential difference → Ettingshausen effect → Temperature gradient → Thermal emission → Photons → Photovoltaic effect → Electron–hole pairs → Electrical work7/7 established · same energy form
• Incident radiation flux → Photothermal absorption → Temperature gradient → Thermal emission → Photons → Photovoltaic effect → Electron–hole pairs → Electrical work7/7 established · extends a recorded pathway
• Radiative imbalance with the sky → Radiative sky cooling → Temperature gradient → Thermal emission → Photons → Photovoltaic effect → Electron–hole pairs → Electrical work7/7 established · extends a recorded pathway
• Nuclear binding-energy difference → Radioactive decay → Alpha particles → Radioluminescence → Photons → Photovoltaic effect → Electron–hole pairs → Electrical work7/7 established · extends a recorded pathway
• Nuclear binding-energy difference → Nuclear fission → Temperature gradient → Thermal emission → Photons → Photovoltaic effect → Electron–hole pairs → Electrical work7/7 established · extends a recorded pathway
• Nuclear binding-energy difference → Nuclear fission → Hot gas → Thermal emission → Photons → Photovoltaic effect → Electron–hole pairs → Electrical work7/7 established · extends a recorded pathway
• Nuclear binding-energy difference → Nuclear fusion → Temperature gradient → Thermal emission → Photons → Photovoltaic effect → Electron–hole pairs → Electrical work5/7 established · extends a recorded pathway

Cite this claim

Physical Transformation Atlas (2026). claim claim:photons-drive-pv: Photons —drives→ Photovoltaic effect. Dataset revision rbfbfcbb70e57 (hash of the canonical data). https://physical-transformation-atlas.wldud5192.workers.dev/claim/photons-drive-pv

Ids and matrix addresses are stable across revisions; the revision hash identifies the exact canonical files the record was compiled from and is meta.data_hash in every /api export. Reuse terms: see the license field in any export.