Thin–Film Crystalline Silicon Solar Cells: Physics and Technology

This introduction to the physics of silicon solar cells focuses on thin cells, while reviewing and discussing the current status of the important technology. An analysis of the spectral quantum efficiency of thin solar cells is given as well as a full set of analytical models. This is the first comprehensive treatment of light trapping techniques for the enhancement of the optical absorption in thin silicon films.

Spis treści:
Foreword.
Preface.
Symbols and Acronyms.
INTRODUCTION.
Highest–efficiency crystalline Si solar cells.
Industrial crystalline Si solar cells.
Thin–film crystalline Si cells.
Physical problems with thin–film crystal line Si cells.
PHYSICAL LOSS MECHANISMS.
Limitations to photogeneration.
Limitations imposed by radiative recombination.
Limitations imposed by non–radiative recombination.
ADVANCED QUANTUM EFFICIENCY ANALYSIS.
Definition of effective diffusion lengths.
Reciprocity theorem for charge carrier collection.
Applications of the generalized reciprocity theorem.
Limiting recombination parameters derived from LQ.
Analytical quantum efficiency model for thin films.
Differential and actual recombination parameters.
TECHNOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO THIN–FILM CELLS.
High–temperature substrate (HTS) approach.
Low–temperature substrate (LTS) approach.
Layer transfer process (LTP) approach.
WAFFLE CELLS FROM THE POROUS SI (PSI) PROCESS.
Epitaxy on porous Si. < ;p> Module concepts.
Optical absorption in Si waffles.
Efficiency potential.
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS.
Physical limitations to power conversion.
Revealing the limitations of experimental cells.
Limitations of current thin–film approaches.
Porous Si for layer transfer.
Update.
APPENDICES.
Appendix A: Light Trapping.
Appendix B: Recombination.
Appendix C: Quantum Efficiency.
References.
In dex.

Nota biograficzna:
Rolf Brendel studied Physics and Mathematics in Freiburg, Brighton (UK), and Heidelberg. After his Ph.D. in materials science at the University Erlangen–Nuremberg he worked for five years with the Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research in Stuttgart. He is the head of the division for Thermosensorics and Photovoltaics at the Bavarian Center for Applied Energy Research (ZAE Bayern) and teaches Physics at the University of Erlangen–Nuremberg.

Okładka tylna:
This introduction to the physics of silicon solar cells focuses on thin cells, while reviewing and discussing the current status of the important technology. An analysis of the spectral quantum efficiency of thin solar cells is given as well as a full set of analytical models. This is the first comprehensive treatment of light trapping techniques for the enhancement of the optical absorption in thin silicon films.