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Numerical simulation of the effect of recombination centres and traps created by electron irradiation on the performance degradation of GaAs solar cells

Abstract

In this paper, we report a detailed numerical study of the electron irradiation effect on the photoelectrical parameters of a GaAs based p{sup +}-n-n{sup +} solar cell which operates under an AM0 solar spectrum. As a consequence of irradiation different types of defects are created in the semiconductor lattice. These defects introduce energy levels in the gap of the material. The majority of studies dealing with irradiation-induced degradation in solar cells relate it mainly to recombination centres, which are deep levels lying near the mid gap. In the present study, numerical simulation is used to demonstrate that the irradiation-induced degradation is not solely due to recombination centres. Other less deep levels, or traps, play a major role in this degradation. When only recombination centres are taken into account, the short circuit current density (J{sub sc}) is hardly affected while the other cell output parameters such as the open circuit voltage (V{sub oc}), the conversion efficiency ({eta}) and the fill factor (FF) are strongly deteriorated. However, if less deep levels or traps are taken into account together with recombination centres, J{sub sc} becomes sensitive to electron irradiation and the other output parameter deteriorations become less sensitive.
Authors:
Meftah, A F; Sengouga, N; Meftah, A M; [1]  Belghachi, A [2] 
  1. Laboratory of Metallic and Semiconducting Materials, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Mohamed Kheider University, BP 145, 07000 Biskra (Algeria)
  2. Laboratory of Semiconductor Devices Physics, Physics Department, University of Bechar, PO Box 417, Bechar 08000 (Algeria)
Publication Date:
May 27, 2009
Product Type:
Journal Article
Resource Relation:
Journal Name: Journal of Physics. Condensed Matter; Journal Volume: 21; Journal Issue: 21; Other Information: PII: S0953-8984(09)69273-0; DOI: 10.1088/0953-8984/21/21/215802; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
Subject:
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY; CRYSTAL DEFECTS; CURRENT DENSITY; ELECTRIC POTENTIAL; ELECTRICAL FAULTS; ELECTRON BEAMS; ELECTRONS; ENERGY LEVELS; FILL FACTORS; GALLIUM ARSENIDES; IRRADIATION; NUMERICAL ANALYSIS; PHOTOELECTRIC EFFECT; PHYSICAL RADIATION EFFECTS; P-N JUNCTIONS; RECOMBINATION; SEMICONDUCTOR MATERIALS; SIMULATION; SOLAR CELLS; SPECTRA; TRAPS
OSTI ID:
21282735
Country of Origin:
United Kingdom
Language:
English
Other Identifying Numbers:
Journal ID: ISSN 0953-8984; JCOMEL; TRN: GB09O3477030652
Availability:
Available from http://dx.doi.org/10.1088/0953-8984/21/21/215802;INIS
Submitting Site:
GBN
Size:
7 pages
Announcement Date:
Apr 29, 2010

Citation Formats

Meftah, A F, Sengouga, N, Meftah, A M, and Belghachi, A. Numerical simulation of the effect of recombination centres and traps created by electron irradiation on the performance degradation of GaAs solar cells. United Kingdom: N. p., 2009. Web. doi:10.1088/0953-8984/21/21/215802; COUNTRY OF INPUT: INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (IAEA).
Meftah, A F, Sengouga, N, Meftah, A M, & Belghachi, A. Numerical simulation of the effect of recombination centres and traps created by electron irradiation on the performance degradation of GaAs solar cells. United Kingdom. https://doi.org/10.1088/0953-8984/21/21/215802; COUNTRY OF INPUT: INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (IAEA)
Meftah, A F, Sengouga, N, Meftah, A M, and Belghachi, A. 2009. "Numerical simulation of the effect of recombination centres and traps created by electron irradiation on the performance degradation of GaAs solar cells." United Kingdom. https://doi.org/10.1088/0953-8984/21/21/215802; COUNTRY OF INPUT: INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (IAEA).
@misc{etde_21282735,
title = {Numerical simulation of the effect of recombination centres and traps created by electron irradiation on the performance degradation of GaAs solar cells}
author = {Meftah, A F, Sengouga, N, Meftah, A M, and Belghachi, A}
abstractNote = {In this paper, we report a detailed numerical study of the electron irradiation effect on the photoelectrical parameters of a GaAs based p{sup +}-n-n{sup +} solar cell which operates under an AM0 solar spectrum. As a consequence of irradiation different types of defects are created in the semiconductor lattice. These defects introduce energy levels in the gap of the material. The majority of studies dealing with irradiation-induced degradation in solar cells relate it mainly to recombination centres, which are deep levels lying near the mid gap. In the present study, numerical simulation is used to demonstrate that the irradiation-induced degradation is not solely due to recombination centres. Other less deep levels, or traps, play a major role in this degradation. When only recombination centres are taken into account, the short circuit current density (J{sub sc}) is hardly affected while the other cell output parameters such as the open circuit voltage (V{sub oc}), the conversion efficiency ({eta}) and the fill factor (FF) are strongly deteriorated. However, if less deep levels or traps are taken into account together with recombination centres, J{sub sc} becomes sensitive to electron irradiation and the other output parameter deteriorations become less sensitive.}
doi = {10.1088/0953-8984/21/21/215802; COUNTRY OF INPUT: INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (IAEA)}
journal = []
issue = {21}
volume = {21}
place = {United Kingdom}
year = {2009}
month = {May}
}