Physical models of thin film polycrystalline solar cells based on measured grain-boundary and electronic-parameter properties. Quarterly report
Solar cells fabricated on polycrystalline silicon, either bulk or thin-film, can potentially be cost-effective when used in terrestrial photovoltaic energy-conversion systems. To achieve this goal, the polysilicon cell efficiency must be increased considerably from its present values. A severe limitation to the cell efficiency is due to the grain boundaries and their influence on carrier recombination. To remove this limitation, an understanding of the fundamental physics underlying the effects of the grain boundaries on cell performance is helpful. This fundamental physics is discussed, and models are developed for recombination currents in polysilicon pn-junction solar cells. Several analytic approximations, suggested by physical insight, are used and checked ultimately for self-consistency with the results of the analysis. The models are defined such that their parameters can be related directly to measurements, and the models are hence useful in interpreting experimental results. They also can be used to study, in a systematic way, cell-design modifications to improve the efficiency, e.g., grain-boundary passivation techniques.
- Research Organization:
- Florida Univ., Gainesville (USA). Coll. of Engineering
- DOE Contract Number:
- EG-77-C-01-4042
- OSTI ID:
- 5439720
- Report Number(s):
- DSE-4042-T37
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
SILICON SOLAR CELLS
GRAIN BOUNDARIES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
CHARGE CARRIERS
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRIC CURRENTS
ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE
ENERGY GAP
FILMS
PHOTOVOLTAIC EFFECT
POLYCRYSTALS
RECOMBINATION
SOLAR CELLS
SOLID STATE PHYSICS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
CRYSTALS
CURRENTS
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
EQUIPMENT
MICROSTRUCTURE
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
PHYSICS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
140501* - Solar Energy Conversion- Photovoltaic Conversion