Computer modeling of high intensity solar cells
The purpose of this program is to provide general analytic support to Sandia National Laboratories' effort to develop high efficiency, high concentration solar cells. This report covers work performed between November 5, 1984, and December 31, 1985, and includes reprints of three papers presented at the 18th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists' Conference. In the first paper, the factors that presently prevent achieving the predicted theoretical efficiencies (in excess of 30% at concentration) are examined. It is demonstrated, by two-dimensional computer simulations, that these efficiencies might be obtained by improved light trapping techniques and by fabrication of low resistance heteroface contacts. The second paper examines the Rose-Weaver lifetime and surface recombination velocity measurement technique. It is shown that the very small uncertainties in the measured quantities lead to large uncertainties in the computed lifetime and surface recombination velocity. This leads to radically different interpretations of how the recombination is distributed throughout the device, and therefore limits the usefulness of the measurement technique. Design options and constraints of GaAs concentrator cells are examined in the third paper. The effectiveness of various design options is assessed. It is shown that although such design options are of little use in increasing the efficiency of heteroface cells, they can improve the efficiency of shallow junction cells so that it is comparable to that of heteroface cells, In addition, documentation describing the use of both the one- and two-dimensional silicon codes, SCAP1D and SCAP2D, as well as the one-dimensional AlGaAs solar cell simulation code is included.
- Research Organization:
- Purdue Univ., Lafayette, IN (USA). School of Electrical Engineering; Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (USA)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- OSTI ID:
- 6886939
- Report Number(s):
- SAND-86-7048; ON: DE87005970
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: Portions of this document are illegible in microfiche products. Original copy available until stock is exhausted
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
An approach toward 25-percent efficient GaAs heteroface solar cells
Sensitivity analysis of a passivated thin silicon solar cell
Related Subjects
CONCENTRATOR SOLAR CELLS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
CARRIER LIFETIME
DESIGN
EFFICIENCY
GALLIUM ARSENIDE SOLAR CELLS
RECOMBINATION
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
EQUIPMENT
LIFETIME
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
SIMULATION
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
140501* - Solar Energy Conversion- Photovoltaic Conversion