Closed-form expression for the current/voltage characteristics of pin solar cells

TARETTO, K. R.; RAU, U.; WERNER, J.-H.

APPLIED PHYSICS. A - MATERIALS SCIENCE AND PROCESSING

Springer

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 2003 p. 865 - 871

0947-8396

A closed-form expression for the current–voltage relationship of pin diodes and pin solar cells is obtained. The model considers drift and diffusion currents, and assumes a uniform electric field in the intrinsic layer, equal diffusion lengths for electrons and holes and a homogeneous generation rate. We show that both drift and diffusion currents must be taken into account to describe the current over a wide range of applied voltage. The inclusion of both transport mechanisms results in diode ideality factors between 1.8 at low, and 1.2 at high applied voltages. Comparisons of current/voltage characteristics and solar cell output parameters obtained from our model with experimental data of thin-film silicon solar cells show that our model accurately explains the output characteristics of pin solar cells.