Optimization of Textured Silicon Solar Cells

An approach is developed to model high-efficiency textured silicon solar cells. It uses a simple empirical formula to quantitatively describe the experimental external quantum efficiency in the long-wavelength part of the spectrum and hence to find the short-circuit current density as a function of base thickness. In addition to the usual recombination mechanisms in silicon, this approach takes into account the non-radiative trap-assisted exciton Auger recombination and recombination in the space-charge region. This approach allows to establish the photoconversion efficiency for arbitrary base thickness and doping level, and hence to optimize the cell performance with respect to these parameters.