Modeling of photo-conversion efficiency for hydrogenated amorphous Si p-i-n structures

Abstract

An analytical formalism to optimize the photoconversion efficiency η of hydrogenated amorphous silicon-based (a-Si:H) solar cells has been developed. This model allows firstly the optimization of a p⁺ -i-n sandwich in terms of carrier mobilities, thickness of the layers, doping levels, and others. Second, the geometry of grid fingers that conduct the photocurrent to the bus bars and ITO/SiO₂ layers has been optimized, and the effect of non-zero incidence angles of Sun’s light has been included as well. The optimization method has been applied to typical a-Si:H solar cells. The codes allow the optimization of amorphous Si based solar cells in a wide range of parameters and are available on the e-mail request.