Solar cells
Solar cells are p-i-n photodiodes, which are operated under forward bias. The intention is to convert the incoming optical power into electrical power with maximum efficiency
1800 1600
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
5.00
Figure 4.8.1
The solar spectrum as observed on earth is modified due to absorption in the atmosphere. For AM1 (normal incidence) the power density is reduced to 925 W/cm2 whereas for AM1.5 (45 above the horizon) the power density is 844 W/m2. The irregularities in the spectrum are due to absorption at specific photon energies. The corresponding cumulative photocurrent is presented in Figure 4.8.2 as a function of the photon energy.
80.00 70.00 60.00 50.00 40.00 30.00 20.00 10.00 0.00 0.00
1.00
2.00
3.00
4.00
5.00
Figure 4.8.2
where Is is the saturation current of the diode and Iph is the photo current (which is assumed to be independent of the applied voltage Va ). This expression only includes the ideal diode current of the diode, thereby ignoring recombination in the depletion region. The short circuit current, Isc, is the current at zero voltage which equals Isc = -Iph . The open circuit voltage equals:
Voc = Va ( I = 0) = Vt ln(
The total power dissipation is then:
I ph Is
+ 1) Vt ln
I ph Is
(4.8.2)
P = Va I = I s Va (eV a / V t 1) I phVa The maximum power occurs at power point are Vm and Im .
(4.8.3)
I V dP = 0 = I s ( eV m / V t 1) I ph + s m eV m /V t dVa Vt
This equation can be rewritten as:
(4.8.4)
V m = V t ln[
I ph + I s Is
V V 1 ] Vt [ oc ln( 1 + m )] V Vt Vt 1+ m Vt
(4.8.5)
by using equation (4.8.2) for the open circuit voltage Voc. A more accurate solution is obtained by solving this transcendental equation and substituting into equations (4.8.1) and (4.8.3). The maximum power can be approximated by:
(4.8.6)
V V V Pm I ph (Voc Vt ln( 1 + m ) oc t ) Vt Vm
or
(4.8.7)
E Pm = I ph m q
where
(4.8.8)
V V V Em = q (Voc Vt ln( 1 + m ) oc t ) Vt Vm
(4.8.9)
The energy Em is the energy of one photon, which is converted to electrical energy at the maximum power point. The total photo current is calculated as (for a given bandgap Eg )
J ph ( E g ) = q
and the efficiency equals:
(4.8.10)
I ph E m P = m = Pin qPin
(4.8.11)
(4.8.12)
Vm = and = Eg q
Vt ln( 1 +
Eg kT
(4.8.13)
I phVm Pin
= [1
Eg 2kT ln( 1 + )] Eg kT
(4.8.14)
0 = Dn
d 2n dx 2
+ n E
dn n + g op dx
(4.8.15)
as well as a similar equation for holes. The photo current is obtained from
I ph (Va ) =
qA d2
( i Va ) ( n n + p p ) dx
0
(4.8.16)
Once this photocurrent is obtained the total current is obtained from: I = I s (eV a / Vt 1) I ph (Va ) (4.8.17)
To obtain the corresponding maximum power one has to repeat the derivation of section 5.3.2.
Repeating the derivation of section 4.8.2 one can show that the maximum power condition is given by the following set of transcendental equations:
Vm = Vt ln[
I ph + I s Is
1 V 2I R 1+ m + m s Vt Vt
(4.8.21)
(4.8.22)