Analysis of design for a-SiC/c-Si heterojunction solar cells

A computer simulation model of a-SiC/c-Si heterojunction solar cells at thermodynamic equilibrium using a Scharfetter-Gummel solution of Poissons equation is developed. The energy band structure and distribution of electric field in a-SiC/c-Si heterojunction are analyzed in detail. From results, the collection and transport of photo-generated carriers are increased effectively due to the designs of thinner p+ (a-SiC:H) layer and the insertion of an i (a-Si:H) buffer thin layer into the heterojunction. Such a design also improves the performances of a-SiC/c-Si heterojunction solar cells. In case of prolonged light soaking, the simulation shows that a-SiC/c-Si heterojunction structure solar cell possesses high light stability.