Study of thin film solar cells in high temperature condition

In this paper, we study the effect of temperature on the Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS) thin film solar cells using the one dimensional solar cells simulator SCAPS-1D (Solar Cell Capacitance Simulator). The dependence of the CIGS solar cells characteristics on temperature was investigated from 25 degrees C to 70 degrees C at intervals of 5 degrees C. We observed an apparent degradation in the open-circuit voltage and conversion efficiency with an increase of temperature from 25 degrees C to 70 degrees C, accompanied with degradation in the maximum power of the cell from 18.55 mW/cm(2) (25 degrees C) to 14.941 mW/cm(2) (70 degrees C). By the using of the luminescent downshifting approach, the conversion efficiency of the CIGS solar cell was enhanced under Standard Test Conditions (STC) at 25 degrees C and in high ambient temperatures test conditions. The coefficient of the voltage variation to temperature Delta V-oc/Delta T was reduced from -2 to -1.8 (mV/degrees C). (C) 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.