Title :
A numerical simulator for graded-bandgap solar cells
Author :
Rafat, N.H. ; Haleem, A. M Abdel ; Habib, S. E -D
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Eng. Math. & Phys., Cairo Univ., Giza, Egypt
Abstract :
A one-dimensional semiconductor simulator is implemented. This simulator is able to simulate thin film graded-bandgap semiconductors having position dependent device parameters such as: the energy gap, absorption coefficient, the dielectric constant and other parameters. The simulator is able to calculate the conversion efficiency of the solar cells under normal conditions as well as the limiting efficiency of the cells. It calculates the efficiency by solving the coupled semiconductor equations, namely, Poisson´s equation and the current continuity equations together with the Boltzmann photon equation. The non-avoidable bulk losses due to carriers recombination, namely, radiative and Auger, are carefully considered. The photon-recycling effect is carefully taken into account.
Keywords :
Auger effect; Boltzmann equation; III-V semiconductors; Poisson equation; SCF calculations; absorption coefficients; carrier density; electron-hole recombination; energy gap; finite difference methods; gallium arsenide; permittivity; semiconductor device models; semiconductor devices; semiconductor thin films; solar cells; thin film devices; Auger recombination; Boltzmann photon equation; GaAs; Poisson equation; absorption coefficient; carriers recombination; conversion efficiency; coupled semiconductor equations; current continuity equations; dielectric constant; energy gap; graded-bandgap solar cells; nonavoidable bulk losses; one-dimensional semiconductor simulator; photon-recycling effect; position dependent device parameters; radiative recombination; thin film graded-bandgap semiconductors; Absorption; Dielectric constant; Dielectric thin films; Numerical simulation; Photovoltaic cells; Poisson equations; Radiative recombination; Semiconductor thin films; Spontaneous emission; Thin film devices;
Conference_Titel :
Microelectronics, 2003. ICM 2003. Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on
Print_ISBN :
977-05-2010-1
DOI :
10.1109/ICM.2003.1287809
