Numerical modeling of CIGS and CdTe solar cells: setting the baseline

Abstract

Numerical modeling of polycrystalline thin-film solar cells is an important strategy to test the viability of proposed physical explanations and to predict the effect of physical changes on cell performance. In general, this must be done with only partial knowledge of input parameters. Nevertheless, for consistent comparisons between laboratories, it is extremely useful to have a common starting point, or baseline. We will discuss guidelines that should be considered assigning input parameters for numerical modeling. Consequently specific baseline parameters for CIGS and CdTe are proposed. The modeling results for these baseline cases are presented and it is discussed how the baseline cases serve to describe some of the most important complications that are often found in experimental ClGS and CdTe solar cells.