Junction characteristics of silicon solar cells.

Abstract

Precise values of the reverse saturation currents in solar cells and magnitudes of the diffusion and recombination components have been obtained. The recombination current as well as leakage current due to shunting are shown to be nonuniform across the cell and to be responsible for up to 30% loss in efficiency for the average cell in a Jupiter-type environment. Models are given demonstrating the effect of recombination and shunting currents on dark and light characteristics of solar cells.