Abstract
Performance predictions and optimisation strategies in current nanotechnology-based photovoltaic (PV) require simulation tools that can efficiently and accurately compute optical and electrical performance parameters of intricate 3D geometrical structures. Due to the complexity of each type of simulation it is often the case that a single package excels in either optical or electrical modelling, and the other remains a bottleneck. In this work, an efficient tool flow is described in order to combine the highly effective optical simulator Lumerical with the excellent fabrication and electrical simulation capability of Sentaurus. Interfacing between the two packages is achieved through tool command language and Matlab, offering a fast and accurate electro-optical characteristics of nano-structured PV devices. Program summaryProgram title: Interfacing_Lumerical_SentaurusCatalogue identifier: AEWK_v1_0Program summary URL:http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/summaries/AEWK_v1_0.htmlProgram obtainable from: CPC Program Library, Queen’s University, Belfast, N. IrelandLicensing provisions: Standard CPC licence, http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/licence/licence.htmlNo. of lines in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 4525No. of bytes in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 23729Distribution format: tar.gzProgramming language: TCL, Matlab, Lumerical FDTD Solutions Version 8.7.3, TCAD Sentaurus Version j-2014.09.Computer: A multi-core, high ram workstation is recommended for running Lumerical Solutions and TCAD Sentaurus. The scripts provided here were run on a HPZ820 workstation with 2 X Intel Xeon E5-2680 2.70Ghz processors and 128GB DDR3-1600 RAM.Operating system: Linux.Number of processors used: Matlab scripts can be parallel processed. The scripts have been tested on 16 CPUs (32 Threads).RAM: For the TCL files, minimal RAM is needed. For the matlab script, it depends on the structure. The scripts have been tested using an upper limit of 128 GB.Classification: 4, 6, 18.Nature of problem:Create a tool flow that models complex fabrication techniques, as well as accurate and efficient optical and electrical simulations for photovoltaic simulations.Solution method:Code is provided to interface between Lumerical and Sentaurus using TCL and Matlab script.Running time:Depends on structure complexity and number of processors used.
Highlights
Introduction✩ This paper and its associated computer program are available via the Computer Physics Communication homepage on ScienceDirect (http://www.sciencedirect. com/science/journal/00104655)
Performance predictions and optimisation strategies in current nanotechnology-based photovoltaic (PV) require simulation tools that can efficiently and accurately compute optical and electrical performance parameters of intricate 3D geometrical structures
Computer: A multi-core, high ram workstation is recommended for running Lumerical Solutions and Technology Computer Aided Design (TCAD) Sentaurus
Summary
✩ This paper and its associated computer program are available via the Computer Physics Communication homepage on ScienceDirect (http://www.sciencedirect. com/science/journal/00104655). Lumerical is integrated with Sentaurus TCAD to establish an efficient and easy to use tool flow which will allow researchers to explore innovative 3D PV devices Whilst both packages contain optical and electrical simulation tools, they offer optimum performance and versatility in one of the two tasks. SProcess simulates processing steps such as deposition (e.g. spin-on-dopants), thermal annealing and etching, using various meshing strategies to generate a mixed grid element mesh [21] This is advantageous as 3D structures can be formed from material growth and etching rather than explicit geometry definition. For PV devices, the input grid file should contain the geometry of the structure, the doping profile and optical generation profile Using this data, terminal currents and voltages are solved numerically based on physical device equations that describes the carrier distribution and conduction mechanisms. Shockley-read-hall, radiative, and trap assisted Auger recombination are accounted for [23]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
