New approach of both junction and back surface recombination velocities in a 3D modelling study of a polycrystalline silicon solar cell

Abstract

A 3D modelling is used to obtain the expression of excess minority carrier density in base region of a polycrystalline silicon solar cell. The concept of the junction recombination velocity S f is used to quantify how excess carrier flow through the junction in actual operating conditions. The plot of the photocurrent density allowed study the influence of the grain boundary recombination velocity and grain size on both, the junction recombination velocity and on the back surface recombination velocity of an n + - p - p + solar cell. This study pointed out the importance of the losses at the back side of solar cell. It's also show that the junction recombination velocity is more important for small grain size with large values of grain boundary recombination velocity.