Effects of grain boundaries in polycrystalline solar cells
In polycrystalline solar cells, the short-circuit current is reduced (compared to single-crystal cells) due to recombination of minority carriers at the grain boundaries. The magnitude of this reduction is calculated for the case of a monochromatic beam of light, assuming that both the light beam and the grain boundaries are perpendicular to a p-n junction. The photoresponse of the junction is calculated in terms of the absorption coefficient of the light, the minority-carrier diffusion length, the surface recombination velocity at the grain boundary and the distance of the light beam from the grain boundary. The analysis gives an expression for an effective grain boundary width which depends on wavelength. This width determines the reduction in short-circuit current of solar cells made from material with columnar-type grains.
- Research Organization:
- Honeywell Technology Center, Bloomington, Minnesota 55420
- OSTI ID:
- 5416284
- Journal Information:
- Appl. Phys. Lett.; (United States), Journal Name: Appl. Phys. Lett.; (United States) Vol. 37:2; ISSN APPLA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
140501* -- Solar Energy Conversion-- Photovoltaic Conversion
ABSORPTION
CHARGE CARRIERS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
CRYSTALS
DIFFUSION LENGTH
DIRECT ENERGY CONVERTERS
EQUIPMENT
FREQUENCY DEPENDENCE
GRAIN BOUNDARIES
JUNCTIONS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MICROSTRUCTURE
P-N JUNCTIONS
PHOTOELECTRIC CELLS
PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
POLYCRYSTALS
RECOMBINATION
SEMICONDUCTOR JUNCTIONS
SOLAR CELLS
SOLAR EQUIPMENT
SURFACES
VELOCITY
WAVELENGTHS