System and method for increasing solar cell efficiency

Abstract

A solar cell management system for increasing the efficiency and power output of a solar cell and methods for making and using the same. The management system provides an electric field across an individual solar cell, an array of solar cells configured as a panel, or a group of solar panels. The imposed electric field exerts a force on both the electrons and holes created by light incident on the solar cell and accelerates the electron-hole pairs towards the electrodes of the solar cell. Compared to conventional solar cells, these accelerated electron-hole pairs travel a shorter distance from creation (by incident optical radiation) and spend less time within the solar cell material, therefore the electron-hole pairs have a lower likelihood of recombining within the cells' semiconductor's material. This reduction in the electron-hole recombination rate results in an overall increase in the solar cells' efficiency and greater power output.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for increasing solar cell efficiency, comprising:
 a voltage pulse generation circuit for applying one or more voltage pulses with a positive magnitude to an output power electrode of a solar cell to adjust an output power or an output current supplied by the solar cell via the output power electrode.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said voltage pulse generation circuit applies the voltage pulses across a pair of output power electrodes of the solar cell, the output power or the output current being supplied via the pair of output power electrodes. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein application of the voltage pulses to the output power electrode generates an electric field at the solar cell. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the electric field is generated in a first direction being in a same direction as a polarity of the output power electrode for increasing the output power or the output current supplied by the solar cell. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the electric field generated in the first direction accelerates a mobility of an electron and a hole of at least one first electron-hole pair in the solar cell. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the electric field is generated in a second direction being in an opposite direction of as a polarity of the output power electrode for decreasing the output power or the output current supplied by the solar cell. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the electric field generated in the second direction decreases a mobility of an electron and a hole of at least one second electron-hole pair in the solar cell. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the voltage pulses have a uniform positive magnitude. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the voltage pulses have an amplitude within an amplitude range between 100 Volts and 500 Volts, a frequency within a frequency range between 20 KHz and 200 KHz, a period within a period range between 5 microseconds and 50 microseconds, a nominal duty cycle in a duty cycle range between 0.1% and 10% or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said voltage pulse generation circuit comprises a switching circuit for applying a supplied voltage signal to the output power electrode as the voltage pulses. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said switching circuit comprises a switching transistor. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the supplied voltage signal comprises a constant voltage signal. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said voltage pulse generation circuit includes a voltage source circuit for supplying the supplied voltage signal. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said switching circuit is at least partially integrated with said voltage source circuit. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein said switching circuit is configured to apply the supplied voltage signal to the output power electrode as the voltage pulses by alternating between a first switching mode for closing a current path between said voltage source circuit and the output power electrode and a second switching mode for opening the current path. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a pulse generator circuit for providing a control signal to a control electrode of said switching circuit to alternate said switching circuit between the first and second switching modes. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a control circuit for adjusting a switching frequency between the first switching mode and the second switching mode, a first duration of the first switching mode, a second duration of the second switching mode, a duty cycle of the first switching mode and the second switching mode, a first repetition rate of the first switching mode, a second repetition rate of the second switching mode or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said control circuit adjusts the switching frequency to be within a frequency range between 20 KHz and 200 KHz, the first duration to be in a first duration range between 10 nanoseconds and 2000 nanoseconds, the second duration to be in a second duration range between 10 nanoseconds and 2000 nanoseconds, the duty cycle of the voltage pulses to be within a duty cycle range between 0.1% and 10% or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein said control circuit is at least partially integrated with said voltage source circuit, said switching circuit or both. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said voltage pulse generation circuit is electrically isolated from the output power electrode in the radio frequency domain. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a control circuit for adjusting a frequency of the voltage pulses, the magnitude of the voltage pulses, a period of the voltage pulses, a repetition rate of the voltage pulses, a duty cycle of the voltage pulses, a duration of the voltage pulses or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said control circuit adjusts the frequency to be within a frequency range between 20 KHz and 200 KHz, the magnitude to be within an amplitude range between 100 Volts and 500 Volts, the period to be within a period range between 5 microseconds and 50 microseconds, the duty cycle to be within a duty cycle range between 0.1% and 10%, the duration to be in a duration range between 10 nanoseconds and 2000 nanoseconds or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , further comprising a sensor system for monitoring the output power, the output current, an output voltage of the solar cell or a combination thereof, wherein said control circuit adjusts the frequency of the voltage pulses, the magnitude of the voltage pulses, the period of the voltage pulses, the repetition rate of the voltage pulses, the duty cycle of the voltage pulses, the duration of the voltage pulses or a combination thereof based upon at least one of the monitored output power, the monitored output current and the monitored output voltage. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein said control circuit is at least partially integrated with said voltage pulse generation circuit. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the solar cell is configured to provide the output power or the output current to a load via the output power electrode. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the load converts the output power or the output current supplied by the solar cell into an alternating current voltage or current. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 25 , further comprising an energy storage device for mitigating voltage drop-out at the load during application of a selected voltage pulse to the output power electrode. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein said energy storage device stores the output power or the output current supplied by the output power electrode as stored electrical energy between adjacent voltage pulses and provides the stored electrical energy to the load during application of the selected voltage pulse to the output power electrode. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein said energy storage device comprises at least one inductor, at least one capacitor, at least one battery or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein said voltage pulse generation circuit is electrically isolated from the load in the radio frequency domain. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said voltage source applies the voltage pulses to at least one output power electrode of a plurality of solar cells to adjust a collective output power or a collective output current supplied by the solar cells via the output power electrode. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the plurality of solar cells is disposed in a series device configuration, a parallel device configuration or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the plurality of solar cells comprise a solar panel. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein application of the voltage pulses to the output power electrode increases the output power or the output current of the solar cell by up to fifty percent under low light conditions. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein application of the voltage pulses to the output power electrode increases the output power or the output current of the solar cell by more than fifty percent under low light conditions. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein application of the voltage pulses to the output power electrode increases the output power or the output current of the solar cell by up to twenty percent under high intensity light conditions. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein application of the voltage pulses to the output power electrode increases the output power or the output current of the solar cell between twenty percent and fifty percent. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein application of the voltage pulses to the output power electrode increases the output power or the output current of the solar cell by more than fifty percent. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein application of the voltage pulses to the output power electrode accelerates a mobility of an electron and a hole of at least one first electron-hole pair in the solar cell. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein application of the voltage pulses to the output power electrode provides electrons for filling at least one trap disposed between a valence band of the solar cell and a conduction band of the solar cell. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the output power or the output current is based upon an intensity of light incident on the solar cell, the voltage pulses applied to the solar cell, a thickness of the solar cell, a pulse width of the voltage pulses, a frequency of the voltage pulses, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said voltage source applies the voltage pulses to the solar cell without structural modification of the solar cell. 
     
     
         43 . A method for increasing solar cell efficiency, comprising:
 providing a voltage pulse generation circuit for applying one or more voltage pulses with a positive magnitude to an output power electrode of a solar cell to adjust an output power or an output current supplied by the solar cell via the output power electrode.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the voltage pulse generation circuit applies the voltage pulses across a pair of output power electrodes of the solar cell, the output power or the output current being supplied via the pair of output power electrodes. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein application of the voltage pulses to the output power electrode generates an electric field at the solar cell. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the electric field is generated in a first direction being in a same direction as a polarity of the output power electrode for increasing the output power or the output current supplied by the solar cell. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the electric field generated in the first direction accelerates a mobility of an electron and a hole of at least one first electron-hole pair in the solar cell. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the electric field is generated in a second direction being in an opposite direction of as a polarity of the output power electrode for decreasing the output power or the output current supplied by the solar cell. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the electric field generated in the second direction decreases a mobility of an electron and a hole of at least one second electron-hole pair in the solar cell. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the voltage pulses have a uniform positive magnitude. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the voltage pulses have an amplitude within an amplitude range between 100 Volts and 500 Volts, a frequency within a frequency range between 20 KHz and 200 KHz, a period within a period range between 5 microseconds and 50 microseconds, a nominal duty cycle in a duty cycle range between 0.1% and 10% or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein said providing the voltage pulse generation circuit comprises providing a switching circuit for applying a supplied voltage signal to the output power electrode as the voltage pulses. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the switching circuit comprises a switching transistor. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the supplied voltage signal comprises a constant voltage signal. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 52 , further comprising a voltage source circuit for supplying the supplied voltage signal. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the switching circuit is at least partially integrated with the voltage source circuit. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 52 , wherein the switching circuit is configured to apply the supplied voltage signal to the output power electrode as the voltage pulses by alternating between a first switching mode for closing a current path between the voltage source circuit and the output power electrode and a second switching mode for opening the current path. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , further comprising providing a pulse generator circuit for providing a control signal to a control electrode of the switching circuit to alternate the switching circuit between the first and second switching modes. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 57 , further comprising providing a control circuit for adjusting a switching frequency between the first switching mode and the second switching mode, a first duration of the first switching mode, a second duration of the second switching mode, a duty cycle of the first switching mode and the second switching mode, a first repetition rate of the first switching mode, a second repetition rate of the second switching mode or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the control circuit adjusts the switching frequency to be within a frequency range between 20 KHz and 200 KHz, the first duration to be in a first duration range between 10 nanoseconds and 2000 nanoseconds, the second duration to be in a second duration range between 10 nanoseconds and 2000 nanoseconds, the duty cycle of the voltage pulses to be within a duty cycle range between 0.1% and 10% or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 59 , wherein the control circuit is at least partially integrated with the voltage source circuit, the switching circuit or both. 
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the voltage pulse generation circuit is electrically isolated from the output power electrode in the radio frequency domain. 
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 43 , further comprising providing a control circuit for adjusting a frequency of the voltage pulses, the magnitude of the voltage pulses, a period of the voltage pulses, a repetition rate of the voltage pulses, a duty cycle of the voltage pulses, a duration of the voltage pulses or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the control circuit adjusts the frequency to be within a frequency range between 20 KHz and 200 KHz, the magnitude to be within an amplitude range between 100 Volts and 500 Volts, the period to be within a period range between 5 microseconds and 50 microseconds, the duty cycle to be within a duty cycle range between 0.1% and 10%, the duration to be in a duration range between 10 nanoseconds and 2000 nanoseconds or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 63 , further comprising providing a sensor system for monitoring the output power, the output current, an output voltage of the solar cell or a combination thereof, wherein the control circuit adjusts the frequency of the voltage pulses, the magnitude of the voltage pulses, the period of the voltage pulses, the repetition rate of the voltage pulses, the duty cycle of the voltage pulses, the duration of the voltage pulses or a combination thereof based upon at least one of the monitored output power, the monitored output current and the monitored output voltage. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 63 , wherein the control circuit is at least partially integrated with the voltage pulse generation circuit. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the solar cell is configured to provide the output power or the output current to a load via the output power electrode. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the load converts the output power or the output current supplied by the solar cell into an alternating current voltage or current. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 67 , further comprising providing an energy storage device for mitigating voltage drop-out at the load during application of a selected voltage pulse to the output power electrode. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the energy storage device stores the output power or the output current supplied by the output power electrode as stored electrical energy between adjacent voltage pulses and provides the stored electrical energy to the load during application of the selected voltage pulse to the output power electrode. 
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 69 , wherein the energy storage device comprises at least one inductor, at least one capacitor, at least one battery or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 67 , wherein the voltage pulse generation circuit is electrically isolated from the load in the radio frequency domain. 
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the voltage source applies the voltage pulses to at least one output power electrode of a plurality of solar cells to adjust a collective output power or a collective output current supplied by the solar cells via the output power electrode. 
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the plurality of solar cells is disposed in a series device configuration, a parallel device configuration or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the plurality of solar cells comprise a solar panel. 
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein application of the voltage pulses to the output power electrode increases the output power or the output current of the solar cell by up to fifty percent under low light conditions. 
     
     
         77 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein application of the voltage pulses to the output power electrode increases the output power or the output current of the solar cell by more than fifty percent under low light conditions. 
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein application of the voltage pulses to the output power electrode increases the output power or the output current of the solar cell by up to twenty percent under high intensity light conditions. 
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein application of the voltage pulses to the output power electrode increases the output power or the output current of the solar cell between twenty percent and fifty percent. 
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein application of the voltage pulses to the output power electrode increases the output power or the output current of the solar cell by more than fifty percent. 
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein application of the voltage pulses to the output power electrode accelerates a mobility of an electron and a hole of at least one first electron-hole pair in the solar cell. 
     
     
         82 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein application of the voltage pulses to the output power electrode provides electrons for filling at least one trap disposed between a valence band of the solar cell and a conduction band of the solar cell. 
     
     
         83 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the output power or the output current is based upon an intensity of light incident on the solar cell, the voltage pulses applied to the solar cell, a thickness of the solar cell, a pulse width of the voltage pulses, a frequency of the voltage pulses, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein the voltage source applies the voltage pulses to the solar cell without structural modification of the solar cell. 
     
     
         85 . A method for increasing solar cell efficiency, comprising:
 coupling a voltage pulse generation circuit with an output power electrode of a solar cell, the voltage pulse generation circuit for applying one or more voltage pulses with a positive magnitude to the output power electrode of the solar cell to adjust an output power or an output current supplied by the solar cell via the output power electrode.   
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 85 , wherein the voltage pulse generation circuit applies the voltage pulses across a pair of output power electrodes of the solar cell, the output power or the output current being supplied via the pair of output power electrodes. 
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 85 , wherein application of the voltage pulses to the output power electrode generates an electric field at the solar cell. 
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 87 , wherein the electric field is generated in a first direction being in a same direction as a polarity of the output power electrode for increasing the output power or the output current supplied by the solar cell. 
     
     
         89 . The method of  claim 88 , wherein the electric field generated in the first direction accelerates a mobility of an electron and a hole of at least one first electron-hole pair in the solar cell. 
     
     
         90 . The method of  claim 87 , wherein the electric field is generated in a second direction being in an opposite direction of as a polarity of the output power electrode for decreasing the output power or the output current supplied by the solar cell. 
     
     
         91 . The method of  claim 90 , wherein the electric field generated in the second direction decreases a mobility of an electron and a hole of at least one second electron-hole pair in the solar cell. 
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 85 , wherein the voltage pulses have a uniform positive magnitude. 
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 85 , wherein the voltage pulses have an amplitude within an amplitude range between 100 Volts and 500 Volts, a frequency within a frequency range between 20 KHz and 200 KHz, a period within a period range between 5 microseconds and 50 microseconds, a nominal duty cycle in a duty cycle range between 0.1% and 10% or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 85 , wherein the voltage pulse generation circuit comprises a switching circuit for applying a supplied voltage signal to the output power electrode as the voltage pulses. 
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 94 , wherein the switching circuit comprises a switching transistor. 
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 94 , wherein the supplied voltage signal comprises a constant voltage signal. 
     
     
         97 . The method of  claim 94 , wherein a voltage source circuit is configured to supply the supplied voltage signal to the switching circuit. 
     
     
         98 . The method of  claim 97 , wherein the switching circuit is at least partially integrated with the voltage source circuit. 
     
     
         99 . The method of  claim 94 , wherein the switching circuit is configured to apply the supplied voltage signal to the output power electrode as the voltage pulses by alternating between a first switching mode for closing a current path between the voltage source circuit and the output power electrode and a second switching mode for opening the current path. 
     
     
         100 . The method of  claim 99 , further comprising a pulse generator circuit for providing a control signal to a control electrode of the switching circuit to alternate the switching circuit between the first and second switching modes. 
     
     
         101 . The method of  claim 99 , further comprising a control circuit for adjusting a switching frequency between the first switching mode and the second switching mode, a first duration of the first switching mode, a second duration of the second switching mode, a duty cycle of the first switching mode and the second switching mode, a first repetition rate of the first switching mode, a second repetition rate of the second switching mode or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         102 . The method of  claim 101 , wherein the control circuit adjusts the switching frequency to be within a frequency range between 20 KHz and 200 KHz, the first duration to be in a first duration range between 10 nanoseconds and 2000 nanoseconds, the second duration to be in a second duration range between 10 nanoseconds and 2000 nanoseconds, the duty cycle of the voltage pulses to be within a duty cycle range between 0.1% and 10% or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         103 . The method of  claim 101 , wherein the control circuit is at least partially integrated with the voltage source circuit, the switching circuit or both. 
     
     
         104 . The method of  claim 85 , wherein the voltage pulse generation circuit is electrically isolated from the output power electrode in the radio frequency domain. 
     
     
         105 . The method of  claim 85 , further comprising a control circuit for adjusting a frequency of the voltage pulses, the magnitude of the voltage pulses, a period of the voltage pulses, a repetition rate of the voltage pulses, a duty cycle of the voltage pulses, a duration of the voltage pulses or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         106 . The method of  claim 105 , wherein the control circuit adjusts the frequency to be within a frequency range between 20 KHz and 200 KHz, the magnitude to be within an amplitude range between 100 Volts and 500 Volts, the period to be within a period range between 5 microseconds and 50 microseconds, the duty cycle to be within a duty cycle range between 0.1% and 10%, the duration to be in a duration range between 10 nanoseconds and 2000 nanoseconds or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         107 . The method of  claim 105 , further comprising a sensor system for monitoring the output power, the output current, an output voltage of the solar cell or a combination thereof, wherein the control circuit adjusts the frequency of the voltage pulses, the magnitude of the voltage pulses, the period of the voltage pulses, the repetition rate of the voltage pulses, the duty cycle of the voltage pulses, the duration of the voltage pulses or a combination thereof based upon at least one of the monitored output power, the monitored output current and the monitored output voltage. 
     
     
         108 . The method of  claim 105 , wherein the control circuit is at least partially integrated with the voltage pulse generation circuit. 
     
     
         109 . The method of  claim 85 , wherein the solar cell is configured to provide the output power or the output current to a load via the output power electrode. 
     
     
         110 . The method of  claim 109 , wherein the load converts the output power or the output current supplied by the solar cell into an alternating current voltage or current. 
     
     
         111 . The method of  claim 109 , further comprising an energy storage device for mitigating voltage drop-out at the load during application of a selected voltage pulse to the output power electrode. 
     
     
         112 . The method of  claim 111 , wherein the energy storage device stores the output power or the output current supplied by the output power electrode as stored electrical energy between adjacent voltage pulses and provides the stored electrical energy to the load during application of the selected voltage pulse to the output power electrode. 
     
     
         113 . The method of  claim 111 , wherein the energy storage device comprises at least one inductor, at least one capacitor, at least one battery or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         114 . The method of  claim 109 , wherein the voltage pulse generation circuit is electrically isolated from the load in the radio frequency domain. 
     
     
         115 . The method of  claim 85 , wherein the voltage source applies the voltage pulses to at least one output power electrode of a plurality of solar cells to adjust a collective output power or a collective output current supplied by the solar cells via the output power electrode. 
     
     
         116 . The method of  claim 115 , wherein the plurality of solar cells is disposed in a series device configuration, a parallel device configuration or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         117 . The method of  claim 115 , wherein the plurality of solar cells comprise a solar panel. 
     
     
         118 . The method of  claim 85 , wherein application of the voltage pulses to the output power electrode increases the output power or the output current of the solar cell by up to fifty percent under low light conditions. 
     
     
         119 . The method of  claim 85 , wherein application of the voltage pulses to the output power electrode increases the output power or the output current of the solar cell by more than fifty percent under low light conditions. 
     
     
         120 . The method of  claim 85 , wherein application of the voltage pulses to the output power electrode increases the output power or the output current of the solar cell by up to twenty percent under high intensity light conditions. 
     
     
         121 . The method of  claim 85 , wherein application of the voltage pulses to the output power electrode increases the output power or the output current of the solar cell between twenty percent and fifty percent. 
     
     
         122 . The method of  claim 85 , wherein application of the voltage pulses to the output power electrode increases the output power or the output current of the solar cell by more than fifty percent. 
     
     
         123 . The method of  claim 85 , wherein application of the voltage pulses to the output power electrode accelerates a mobility of an electron and a hole of at least one first electron-hole pair in the solar cell. 
     
     
         124 . The method of  claim 85 , wherein application of the voltage pulses to the output power electrode provides electrons for filling at least one trap disposed between a valence band of the solar cell and a conduction band of the solar cell. 
     
     
         125 . The method of  claim 85 , wherein the output power or the output current is based upon an intensity of light incident on the solar cell, the voltage pulses applied to the solar cell, a thickness of the solar cell, a pulse width of the voltage pulses, a frequency of the voltage pulses, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         126 . The method of  claim 85 , wherein the voltage source applies the voltage pulses to the solar cell without structural modification of the solar cell. 
     
     
         127 . A computer program product for increasing solar cell efficiency, the computer program product being encoded on one or more non-transitory machine-readable storage media and comprising:
 instruction for applying one or more voltage pulses with a positive magnitude to an output power electrode of a solar cell via a voltage pulse generation circuit, the voltage pulses for adjusting an output power or an output current supplied by the solar cell via the output power electrode.   
     
     
         128 . The computer program product of  claim 127 , wherein said instruction for applying comprises instruction for applying the voltage pulses across a pair of output power electrodes of the solar cell, the output power or the output current being supplied via the pair of output power electrodes. 
     
     
         129 . The computer program product of  claim 127 , wherein application of the voltage pulses to the output power electrode generates an electric field at the solar cell. 
     
     
         130 . The computer program product of  claim 129 , wherein the electric field is generated in a first direction being in a same direction as a polarity of the output power electrode for increasing the output power or the output current supplied by the solar cell. 
     
     
         131 . The computer program product of  claim 130 , wherein the electric field generated in the first direction accelerates a mobility of an electron and a hole of at least one first electron-hole pair in the solar cell. 
     
     
         132 . The computer program product of  claim 129 , wherein the electric field is generated in a second direction being in an opposite direction of as a polarity of the output power electrode for decreasing the output power or the output current supplied by the solar cell. 
     
     
         133 . The computer program product of  claim 132 , wherein the electric field generated in the second direction decreases a mobility of an electron and a hole of at least one second electron-hole pair in the solar cell. 
     
     
         134 . The computer program product of  claim 127 , wherein the voltage pulses have a uniform positive magnitude. 
     
     
         135 . The computer program product of  claim 127 , wherein the voltage pulses have an amplitude within an amplitude range between 100 Volts and 500 Volts, a frequency within a frequency range between 20 KHz and 200 KHz, a period within a period range between 5 microseconds and 50 microseconds, a nominal duty cycle in a duty cycle range between 0.1% and 10% or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         136 . The computer program product of  claim 127 , wherein the voltage pulse generation circuit comprises a switching circuit for applying a supplied voltage signal to the output power electrode as the voltage pulses. 
     
     
         137 . The computer program product of  claim 136 , wherein the supplied voltage signal comprises a constant voltage signal. 
     
     
         138 . The computer program product of  claim 136 , wherein said instruction for applying one or more voltage pulses includes instruction for applying the supplied voltage signal to the output power electrode as the voltage pulses by alternating between a first switching mode for closing a current path between the voltage source circuit and the output power electrode and a second switching mode for opening the current path. 
     
     
         139 . The computer program product of  claim 138 , further comprising instruction for providing a control signal to a control electrode of the switching circuit to alternate the switching circuit between the first and second switching modes. 
     
     
         140 . The computer program product of  claim 138 , further comprising instruction for adjusting a switching frequency between the first switching mode and the second switching mode, a first duration of the first switching mode, a second duration of the second switching mode, a duty cycle of the first switching mode and the second switching mode, a first repetition rate of the first switching mode, a second repetition rate of the second switching mode or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         141 . The computer program product of  claim 140 , wherein said instruction for adjusting includes instruction for adjusting the switching frequency to be within a frequency range between 20 KHz and 200 KHz, the first duration to be in a first duration range between 10 nanoseconds and 2000 nanoseconds, the second duration to be in a second duration range between 10 nanoseconds and 2000 nanoseconds, the duty cycle of the voltage pulses to be within a duty cycle range between 0.1% and 10% or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         142 . The computer program product of  claim 127 , further comprising instruction for adjusting a frequency of the voltage pulses, the magnitude of the voltage pulses, a period of the voltage pulses, a repetition rate of the voltage pulses, a duty cycle of the voltage pulses, a duration of the voltage pulses or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         143 . The computer program product of  claim 142 , wherein said instruction for adjusting includes instruction for adjusting the frequency to be within a frequency range between 20 KHz and 200 KHz, the magnitude to be within an amplitude range between 100 Volts and 500 Volts, the period to be within a period range between 5 microseconds and 50 microseconds, the duty cycle to be within a duty cycle range between 0.1% and 10%, the duration to be in a duration range between 10 nanoseconds and 2000 nanoseconds or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         144 . The computer program product of  claim 142 , further comprising monitoring the output power, the output current, an output voltage of the solar cell or a combination thereof, wherein said instruction for adjusting includes instruction for adjusting the frequency of the voltage pulses, the magnitude of the voltage pulses, the period of the voltage pulses, the repetition rate of the voltage pulses, the duty cycle of the voltage pulses, the duration of the voltage pulses or a combination thereof based upon at least one of the monitored output power, the monitored output current and the monitored output voltage. 
     
     
         145 . The computer program product of  claim 127 , wherein the solar cell is configured to provide the output power or the output current to a load via the output power electrode. 
     
     
         146 . The computer program product of  claim 145 , wherein the load converts the output power or the output current supplied by the solar cell into an alternating current voltage or current. 
     
     
         147 . The computer program product of  claim 145 , further comprising an energy storage device for mitigating voltage drop-out at the load during application of a selected voltage pulse to the output power electrode. 
     
     
         148 . The computer program product of  claim 147 , wherein the energy storage device stores the output power or the output current supplied by the output power electrode as stored electrical energy between adjacent voltage pulses and provides the stored electrical energy to the load during application of the selected voltage pulse to the output power electrode. 
     
     
         149 . The computer program product of  claim 127 , wherein said instruction for applying the voltage pulses comprises instruction for applying the voltage pulses to at least one output power electrode of a plurality of solar cells to adjust a collective output power or a collective output current supplied by the solar cells via the output power electrode. 
     
     
         150 . The computer program product of  claim 149 , wherein the plurality of solar cells is disposed in a series device configuration, a parallel device configuration or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         151 . The computer program product of  claim 149 , wherein the plurality of solar cells comprise a solar panel. 
     
     
         152 . The computer program product of  claim 127 , wherein application of the voltage pulses to the output power electrode increases the output power or the output current of the solar cell by up to fifty percent under low light conditions. 
     
     
         153 . The computer program product of  claim 127 , wherein application of the voltage pulses to the output power electrode increases the output power or the output current of the solar cell by more than fifty percent under low light conditions. 
     
     
         154 . The computer program product of  claim 127 , wherein application of the voltage pulses to the output power electrode increases the output power or the output current of the solar cell by up to twenty percent under high intensity light conditions. 
     
     
         155 . The computer program product of  claim 127 , wherein application of the voltage pulses to the output power electrode increases the output power or the output current of the solar cell between twenty percent and fifty percent. 
     
     
         156 . The computer program product of  claim 127 , wherein application of the voltage pulses to the output power electrode increases the output power or the output current of the solar cell by more than fifty percent. 
     
     
         157 . The computer program product of  claim 127 , wherein application of the voltage pulses to the output power electrode accelerates a mobility of an electron and a hole of at least one first electron-hole pair in the solar cell. 
     
     
         158 . The computer program product of  claim 127 , wherein application of the voltage pulses to the output power electrode provides electrons for filling at least one trap disposed between a valence band of the solar cell and a conduction band of the solar cell. 
     
     
         159 . The computer program product of  claim 127 , wherein the output power or the output current is based upon an intensity of light incident on the solar cell, the voltage pulses applied to the solar cell, a thickness of the solar cell, a pulse width of the voltage pulses, a frequency of the voltage pulses, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         160 . The computer program product of  claim 127 , wherein said instruction for applying the voltage pulses includes instruction for applying the voltage pulses to the solar cell without structural modification of the solar cell.