Identification of some key parameters limiting the performance of high-efficiency silicon solar cells

Several theoretical calculations and barriers to achieving high-efficiency silicon solar cells have been discussed in the past. Cell efficiencies between 44% and 17% have been estimated assuming different spectra of illumination and sets of cell parameters. Plausible reasons for such a large variati...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inSolar cells Vol. 19; no. 1; pp. 9 - 17
Main Authors Mokashi, Anant R., Daud, Taher, Kachare, Ram H.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Legacy CDMS Elsevier B.V 01.11.1986
Elsevier Sequoia
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Summary:Several theoretical calculations and barriers to achieving high-efficiency silicon solar cells have been discussed in the past. Cell efficiencies between 44% and 17% have been estimated assuming different spectra of illumination and sets of cell parameters. Plausible reasons for such a large variation in the cell efficiency have also been discussed. This paper presents, for the first time, a detailed sensitivity analysis of key cell parameters on cell efficiency by incorporating advanced solar cell physics in a sophisticated numerical simulation program. It delineates the true physical barriers to obtaining a high-efficiency silicon solar cell. Specific parameters presently limiting cell efficiency are identified to be the minority carrier lifetime and the recombination velocities at the front and back surfaces. Practical cell efficiencies in the vicinity of 22% are estimated to be attainable by using good quality silicon crystal and substantially reducing surface recombination velocities.
Bibliography:CDMS
Legacy CDMS
ISSN:0379-6787
1878-2655
DOI:10.1016/0379-6787(86)90046-3