Analytical model of front texturization effect on silicon solar cell with porous silicon at the backside

Abstract

In this work, we proposed a theoretical model and an analytical solution to the complete set of equations needed for determining the effect of the front surface texturization and the multiple-pass light trapping on the performance of an n++/n+/p/p+ solar cell having a porous multi-layer structure at the backside (p+ type). The increase in internal quantum efficiency (IQE), contributions of the different cell regions to IQE, enhancement of conversion efficiency, and effects of multiple-pass light trapping and physical parameters of each region were simulated and evaluated in comparison with n++/n+/p/p+ flat solar cells. Overall, the findings revealed that, for the same physical parameters of the different regions of the solar cells, the textured cells have better IQE and better conversion efficiency than the flat ones. The cell conversion efficiency can be improved by 1.25%. This is due to an increase of the light path offered by a textured structure. Moreover, the effect of multiple-pass light trapping on the IQE is more profound at long wavelength range 0.9–1.15 µm. This effect is almost saturated after four passages for both flat and textured cells.