scholarly journals Design and Simulation of InGaNp-nJunction Solar Cell

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Mesrane ◽  
F. Rahmoune ◽  
A. Mahrane ◽  
A. Oulebsir

The tunability of the InGaN band gap energy over a wide range provides a good spectral match to sunlight, making it a suitable material for photovoltaic solar cells. The main objective of this work is to design and simulate the optimal InGaN single-junction solar cell. For more accurate results and best configuration, the optical properties and the physical models such as the Fermi-Dirac statistics, Auger and Shockley-Read-Hall recombination, and the doping and temperature-dependent mobility model were taken into account in simulations. The single-junction In0.622Ga0.378N (Eg = 1.39 eV) solar cell is the optimal structure found. It exhibits, under normalized conditions (AM1.5G, 0.1 W/cm2, and 300 K), the following electrical parameters:Jsc=32.6791 mA/cm2,Voc=0.94091volts, FF = 86.2343%, andη=26.5056%. It was noticed that the minority carrier lifetime and the surface recombination velocity have an important effect on the solar cell performance. Furthermore, the investigation results show that the In0.622Ga0.378N solar cell efficiency was inversely proportional with the temperature.

2018 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
pp. 01006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ferdiansjah ◽  
Faridah ◽  
Kelvian Tirtakusuma Mularso

Back Surface Field (BSF) has been used as one of means to enhance solar cell performance by reducing surface recombination velocity (SRV). One of methods to produce BSF is by introducing highly doped layer on rear surface of the wafer. Depending on the type of the dopant in wafer, the BSF layer could be either p+ or n+. This research aims to compare the performance of BSF layer both in p-type and n-type wafer in order to understand the effect of BSF on both wafer types. Monociystalline silicon wafer with thickness of 300 μm. area of 1 cm2, bulk doping level NB = 1.5×1016/cm3 both for p-type wafer and n-type wafer are used. Both wafer then converted into solar cell by adding emitter layer with concentration NE =7.5×1018/cm3 both for p-type wafer and n-type wafer. Doping profile that is used for emitter layer is following complementary error function (erfc) distribution profile. BSF concentration is varied from 1×1017/cm3 to 1×1020/cm3 for each of the cell. Solar cell performance is tested under standard condition, with AM1.5G spectrum at 1000 W/m2. Its output is measured based on its open circuit voltage (Voc). short circuit current density (JSC), efficiency (η). and fill factor (FF). The result shows that the value of VOC is relatively constant along the range of BSF concentration, which is 0.694 V – 0.702 V. The same pattern is also observed in FF value which is between 0.828 – 0.831. On the other hand, value of JSC and efficiency will drop against the increase of BSF concentration. Highest JSC which is 0.033 A/cm2 and highest efficiency which is 18.6% is achieved when BSF concentration is slightly higher than bulk doping level. The best efficiency can be produced when BSF concentration is around 1×1017cm-3.. This result confirms that surface recombination velocity has been reduced due to the increase in cell’s short circuit current density and its efficiency. In general both p-type and n-type wafer will produce higher efficiency when BSF is applied. However, the increase is larger in p-type wafer than in n-type wafer. Better performance for solar cell is achieved when BSF concentration is slightly higher that bulk doping level because at very high BSF concentration the cell’s efficiency will be decreased.


2007 ◽  
Vol 989 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florian Einsele ◽  
Phillip Johannes Rostan ◽  
Uwe Rau

AbstractWe study resistive losses at (p)c-Si/(p)Si:H/(n)ZnO heterojunction back contacts for high efficiency silicon solar cells. We find that a low tunnelling resistance for the (p)a-Si:H/(n)ZnO part of the junction requires deposition of Si:H with a high hydrogen dilution RH > 40 resulting in a highly doped μc-Si:H layer. Such a μc-Si:H layer if deposited directly on a Si wafer yields a surface recombination velocity of S  180 cm/s. Using the same layer as part of a (p)c-Si/(p)Si:H/(n)ZnO back contact in a solar cell results in an open circuit voltage Voc = 640 mV and a fill factor FF = 80 %. Insertion of an (i)a-Si-layer between the μc-Si:H and the wafer leads to a further decrease of S and, for the solar cells to an increase of VOC. However, if the thickness of this intrinsic layer exceeds a threshold of 3 nm, resistive losses lead to a degradation of the fill factor of the solar cells. These resistive losses result from a valence band offset δEV between a-Si:H and c-Si of about 600 meV. The fill factor losses overcompensate the VOC gain such that there is no benefit of the (i)a-Si:H interlayer for the overall solar cell performance when using an (i)a-Si:H/(p)uc-Si:H double layer.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Yusi Chen ◽  
Yangsen Kang ◽  
Jieyang Jia ◽  
Yijie Huo ◽  
Muyu Xue ◽  
...  

Nanostructures have been widely used in solar cells due to their extraordinary photon management properties. However, due to poor pn junction quality and high surface recombination velocity, typical nanostructured solar cells are not efficient compared with the traditional commercial solar cells. Here, we demonstrate a new approach to design, simulate, and fabricate whole-wafer nanostructures on dielectric layer on thin c-Si for solar cell light trapping. The optical simulation results show that the periodic nanostructure arrays on dielectric materials could suppress the reflection loss over a wide spectral range. In addition, by applying the nanostructured dielectric layer on 40 μm thin c-Si, the reflection loss is suppressed to below 5% over a wide spectra and angular range. Moreover, a c-Si solar cell with 2.9 μm ultrathin absorber layer demonstrates 32% improvement in short circuit current and 44% relative improvement in energy conversion efficiency. Our results suggest that nanostructured dielectric layer has the potential to significantly improve solar cell performance and avoid typical problems of defects and surface recombination for nanostructured solar cells, thus providing a new pathway towards realizing high-efficiency and low-cost c-Si solar cells.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 592
Author(s):  
Myeong Sang Jeong ◽  
Yonghwan Lee ◽  
Ka-Hyun Kim ◽  
Sungjin Choi ◽  
Min Gu Kang ◽  
...  

In the fabrication of crystalline silicon solar cells, the contact properties between the front metal electrode and silicon are one of the most important parameters for achieving high-efficiency, as it is an integral element in the formation of solar cell electrodes. This entails an increase in the surface recombination velocity and a drop in the open-circuit voltage of the solar cell; hence, controlling the recombination velocity at the metal-silicon interface becomes a critical factor in the process. In this study, the distribution of Ag crystallites formed on the silicon-metal interface, the surface recombination velocity in the silicon-metal interface and the resulting changes in the performance of the Passivated Emitter and Rear Contact (PERC) solar cells were analyzed by controlling the firing temperature. The Ag crystallite distribution gradually increased corresponding to a firing temperature increase from 850 ∘C to 950 ∘C. The surface recombination velocity at the silicon-metal interface increased from 353 to 599 cm/s and the open-circuit voltage of the PERC solar cell decreased from 659.7 to 647 mV. Technology Computer-Aided Design (TCAD) simulation was used for detailed analysis on the effect of the surface recombination velocity at the silicon-metal interface on the PERC solar cell performance. Simulations showed that the increase in the distribution of Ag crystallites and surface recombination velocity at the silicon-metal interface played an important role in the decrease of open-circuit voltage of the PERC solar cell at temperatures of 850–900 ∘C, whereas the damage caused by the emitter over fire was determined as the main cause of the voltage drop at 950 ∘C. These results are expected to serve as a steppingstone for further research on improvement in the silicon-metal interface properties of silicon-based solar cells and investigation on high-efficiency solar cells.


1995 ◽  
Vol 386 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Kaniava ◽  
U. Menczigar ◽  
J. Vanhellemont ◽  
J. Poortmans ◽  
A. L. P. Rotondaro ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTThe carrier recombination rate in high-quality FZ and Cz silicon substrates is studied by contactless infrared and microwave absorption techniques. Different surface treatments covering a wide range of surface recombination velocity have been used for the separation of bulk and surface recombination components and evaluating of the efficiency of passivation. Limitations of effective lifetime approach are analyzed specific for low and high injection level. Sensitivity limits of the techniques for iron contamination are discussed


Coatings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 1052
Author(s):  
Yu-Chun Huang ◽  
Ricky Wenkuei Chuang

In this study, Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) equipment was used to deposit Al2O3 film on a p-type silicon wafer, trimethylaluminum (TMA) and H2O were used as precursor materials, and then the post-annealing process was conducted under atmospheric pressure. The Al2O3 films annealed at different temperatures between 200–500 °C were compared to ascertain the effect of passivation films and to confirm the changes in film structure and thickness before and after annealing through TEM images. Furthermore, the negative fixed charge and interface defect density were analyzed using the C-V measurement method. Photo-induced carrier generation was used to measure the effective minority carrier lifetime, the implied open-circuit voltage, and the effective surface recombination velocity of the film. The carrier lifetime was found to be the longest (2181.7 μs) for Al2O3/Si post-annealed at 400 °C. Finally, with the use of VHF (40.68 MHz) plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) equipment, a silicon nitride (SiNx) film was plated as an anti-reflection layer over the front side of the wafer and as a capping layer on the back to realize a passivated emitter and rear contact (PERC) solar cell with optimal efficiency up to 21.54%.


2019 ◽  
Vol 821 ◽  
pp. 407-413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Orabi Moustafa ◽  
Tariq Alzoubi

The performance of the InGaN single-junction thin film solar cells has been analyzed numerically employing the Solar Cell Capacitance Simulator (SCAPS-1D). The electrical properties and the photovoltaic performance of the InGaN solar cells were studied by changing the doping concentrations and the bandgap energy along with each layer, i.e. n-and p-InGaN layers. The results reveal an optimum efficiency of the InGaN solar cell of ~ 15.32 % at a band gap value of 1.32 eV. It has been observed that lowering the doping concentration NA leads to an improvement of the short circuit current density (Jsc) (34 mA/cm2 at NA of 1016 cm−3). This might be attributed to the increase of the carrier mobility and hence an enhancement in the minority carrier diffusion length leading to a better collection efficiency. Additionally, the results show that increasing the front layer thickness of the InGaN leads to an increase in the Jsc and to the conversion efficiency (η). This has been referred to the increase in the photogenerated current, as well as to the less surface recombination rate.


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