Improved PERC Solar Cell Design by TCAD Simulations

Atta Ur Rehman; Amna Siddiqui; Muhammad Nadeem; Muhammad Usman

Author(s)

Atta Ur Rehman Department of Basic Sciences, University of Engineering & Technology Taxila, 47050-Pakistan; Solid State Electronic Devices Lab, Experimental Physics Department, National Centre for Physics, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan.

Amna Siddiqui Solid State Electronic Devices Lab, Experimental Physics Department, National Centre for Physics, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan

Muhammad Nadeem Department of Basic Sciences, University of Engineering & Technology Taxila, 47050-, Pakistan

Muhammad Usman Solid State Electronic Devices Lab, Experimental Physics Department, National Centre for Physics, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan

Abstract

In this work, we aim to identify the performance limiting factors and consequently improve the performance of PERC solar cells through extensive TCAD based device simulation and modelling. Initially, a simplified planar PERC solar cell structure is simulated in Silvaco (Athena/Atlas), where the device geometry is selected according to an experimentally fabricated cell with an eficiency of 17.86%. The J-V curves and solar cell parameters such as Jsc, FF, Voc and eficiency ( ?) of the simulated cell are then fitted to the experimental performance parameters by incorporating relevant models as suggested by the literature. These include: carriers' generation-recombination, mobility, statistics and bandgap narrowing. A good agreement is obtained, where the average percentage diference between simulated and experimental performance parameters is 0.65%. The solar cell performance is then improved to 21.52% by optimising the anti-reflective coating stack composition and thickness, and adding surface texturing. This increase in eficiency is attributed to lower surface recombination and reduced reflection due to light trapping. In addition, a textured front surface enhances the path-length of light, causing it to undergo multiple internal reflections which further increases light trapping, thus increasing Jsc by 7.31 mA/cm2.

Publication Details

Page(s) 61-67

DOI DOI not available

Published Journal: Proceedings of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences: A. Physical and Computational Sciences, Volume: 58, Issue: 4, Year: 2021

Request the full text from PASTIC

Keywords

Recombination, Surface Texturing, TCAD Simulation, Passivation, PERC Solar Cell, ARC