Why are solar photovoltaic panels “relatively ineffective”?
Do you have to do with a “small” number of photons hitting the panel in relation to the size of the panel (ie panel would have to be huge) – or the inability of cells to use all photons striking the panel (ie, more photons bouncing to use) or something completely different. The wavelength of light must be very similar, the band gap semiconductor material. Some more recent, the multi-layer photovoltaic cells are more efficient because each layer absorbs photons of a different wavelength. They already use antilreflective coatings to reduce the reflected light.
