Physical model of back line-contact front-junction solar cells

The analysis of advanced front-junction solar cells where the metal contact to the base region is locally formed on the back surface in the shape of lines usually requires numerical simulations. Here, we describe an approach based on a geometric formulation of carrier crowding towards the localized contact, in conjunction with a partition of the device in two distinct regions. This permits a one dimensional analysis of carrier flow, both in the region immediately adjacent to the contact and in the peripheral region surrounding it. The resulting model is simple enough to provide insight into the physics of device operation and reasonably accurate in cases of practical interest. By applying it to different cases, we identify unexpected anomalies and explain them in terms of the peculiar interplay between carrier transport and recombination that takes place in this type of solar cell. (C) 2013 AIP Publishing LLC.