Solar Cells, 2nd Edition

Chapter IA-1

Principles of Solar Cell Operation

Tom Markvart^a and Luis Castañer^b

^aSchool of Engineering Sciences, University of Southampton, UK

^bUniversidad Politecnica de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain

Chapter Outline

1. Introduction

2. Electrical Characteristics

2.1. The Ideal Solar Cell

2.2. Solar Cell Characteristics in Practice

2.3. The Quantum Efficiency and Spectral Response

3. Optical Properties

3.1. The Antireflection Coating

3.2. Light Trapping

4. Typical Solar Cell Structures

4.1. The p–n Junction Solar Cell

4.1.1. The p–n Junction

4.1.2. Uniform Emitter and Base

4.1.3. Diffused Emitter

4.2. Heterojunction Cells

4.3. The p–i–n Structure

4.4. Series Resistance

References

1 Introduction

Photovoltaic energy conversion in solar cells consists ...