New method to extract the model parameters of solar cells from the explicit analytic solutions of their illuminated I–V characteristics

• Published in: Solar energy materials and solar cells Vol. 90; no. 3; pp. 352 - 361
• Main Authors: Ortiz-Conde, Adelmo, García Sánchez, Francisco J., Muci, Juan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 25.02.2006; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Lambert W function; Natural energy; Parasitic resistance; Parasitic shunt conductance; Photovoltaic conversion; Solar cell parameter extraction; Solar cells. Photoelectrochemical cells; Solar energy; Parasitic shunt conductance; Parasitic resistance; Lambert W function; Solar cell parameter extraction; Solar cell; Error analysis; Voltage current curve; Shunt; Fitting; Series resistance; Analytical solution; Parameter extraction
• ISSN: 0927-0248; 1879-3398
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2005.04.023

We present a new method to extract the intrinsic and extrinsic model parameters of illuminated solar cells containing parasitic series resistance and shunt conductance. The method is based on calculating the Co-content function (CC) from the exact explicit analytical solutions of the illuminated current–voltage ( I–V) characteristics. The resulting CC is expressed as a purely algebraic function of current and voltage from whose coefficients the intrinsic and extrinsic model parameters are then readily determined by bidimensional fitting. The procedure is illustrated by applying it to experimental and synthetic I–V characteristics and an analysis of the errors is presented.