Modeling of photoluminescence spectra and quasi-Fermi level splitting in μc-Si:H solar cells

We developed a model describing the photoluminescence spectra from hydrogenated microcrystalline silicon (mu c-Si:H). From the model we derived analytical relations between the separation of the quasi-Fermi levels and PL-peak energy and intensity. These relations may be useful when photoluminescence or electroluminescence based methods are applied for characterization of pc-Si:H solar cells and modules. We compared the model with experimental PL spectra from a mu c-Si:H solar cell. Our model can consistently explain the relation between the measured PL-peak intensity, energy and the measured open circuit voltage of the pc-Si:H solar cell. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.