This site contains links to the solar cell papers published by Prof. Alam's group. The papers have been organized in a way that makes self-study of these papers easier. A set of resources are available at the bottom of the page. For any questions or comments, please send a note to alam@purdue.edu
Computer Programs, Formula Sheet, and Quizzes
c-Si Solar Cells
Computer Programs
Heterojunction Solar Cells
Lectures
Computer programs
Related Publications
Lectures
Computer programs
Related Publications
Commercialization: Foldable organic solar cells (InfinityPV)
General references regarding PV Characterization
a. Surface Analysis by Field-emission Auger Electron Spectroscopy (FE-AES) with scanning auger microscopy (SAM), X-ray and UV photodetection spectroscopy, Dynamic SIMS, Static TOF-SIMS.
b. Analytical Microscopy. Transmission Electron Microscopy, Field-emission scanning transmission electron microscopy, SEM and SIM
a. Improved intrinsic carrier concentration from 1.45e10 to 1.08e10
i. Improved value for the silicon intrinsic carrier concentration, A. B. Sproul, M. A. Green, and J. Zhao, APL, 57(3), 1990. (The missing 19 meV found)
b. Auger Recombination (9e-31 to 1.66e-30)
i. Sinton and Swanson, ITED, 34(6), 1987. Recombination in Highly Injected Silicon
ii. M. Kerr, P. Campbell, and A. Cuevas, Coulomb Enhanced Auger Resolves Discrepancy (Abstract) Also, in PIP: Research and Applictions 2003 11: 97-104
c. Recombination lifetime
i. Photon recycling decreases lifetime, 2000-2002 Green, Kerr, Campbell, and Cuevas
ii. Measurement of the emitter saturation current by a contactless photoconductivity decaly method, Kane and Swanson, xxxxxx (Allows separation of diffusion and surface recombination (from intercept), as well as reverse saturation current (from slope).
iii. Surface recombination at the diffuse surface, IEEE Trans. On Electron Devices, 37(2), 1990.
d. Recombination at the backsurface, with and without point contacts
i. Design criteria for Si point-contact concentrator solar cells, Stinton and Swanson, TED, 34(10), 1987.
e. Heavy doping effect (Reported bandgap shrinkage was all over the place, between 1e18 to 1e20 n-doping, the values ranged from 0 to 200 mV; problem was Dn=Dp was assumed. Adjusting for different D_p solved the problem)
i. J. Del Alamo, S. Swirhun, and M. Swanson, Measuring and Modeling minority carriers transport in heavily doped silicon
J_p = -q n_i^2 D_p/N_D,eff du/dx ….. p_0 N_Deff = n_i^2
g. Optical reflectance due to back oxide
Silicon solar cells, Advanced Principles and Practice. Martin Green. Plots reflectance vs. oxide thickness for various incident angle. For 1-2 um thick back oxide, the reflectance increases from 0.85 to 1eV.
a. Reverse bias characterization (Typical)
b. Forward bias characterization (Biswajit)
c. EQE methodology (Ryyan analysis)
d. Good LED is a good solar cell.
e. “Time resolved PJ studies in CdTe solar cell,” W. Metzger …. R. Ahrenkiel, JAP, 94(5), 2003.
f. “Correlation of C-V hysteresis with thin-film CdTe cell performance during accelerated testing,” D. Albin and J. A. del Cueto, IRPS, 2010.
g. “Drive-level capacitance profiling: Its application to determining gap state densities in hydrogenated amorphous silicon films,” C. E. Michelson, and J. D. Cohen, APL, 47(4), p. 412, 1985.
h. “Coulomb energy of traps in semiconductor space-charge regions,” M. Schultz, JAP, 74(4), 2649, 1993.
i. “Capacitance spectroscopy of alumina sol-gel capacitors with Al top contacts.” P. Visschere and K. Vanbesien, J. Sol-Gel Sci. Tech. 45: 225-235, 2008.
a. Dark IV characterization. (shunt subtraction, Sourabh)
b. Recreating the spectra
i. K. Emery, Measurement and Characterization of Solar Cells and Modules, chapter 16, Handbook of photovoltaic science and technology, 2003.
ii. NOTC, linear regression method, etc. Physics of Solar Simulator (Arc, pulsed, etc.)
c. Light IV characterization (five parameters fitting …. Optimization, plus multiple parameter fit)
i. H. Saleem and Karmalkar, “An Analytical Method to Extract the Physical Parameters … “ EDL, 30(4), 349, 2009. Uses j=1 – (1-\gamma) v - \gamm v^m and determines gamma=j@v=0.6-0.4/0.6 and m=log[(0.4 – (1-\gamma) v@j=0.6 \gamma^1 by using four points.
ii. A. Laudani et al., Reduced form of the PV five parameters model for efficient computation of parameters, Sol Eng. 97(2013) 122.
iii. “A novel method to extract the series resistance of individual cells in a PV module,” Y. S. Kim, S.-M. Kang, and B. Johnston, and R. Wiston, Sol Eng. Mat. Sol Cells, 115 (2013) 21-28.
d. Bifacial, multijunction, and concentrator PV
i. Assessment of bifacial PV module power rating methodologies – Inside and Out C. Deline, S. MacAlphine, J. S. Stein, JPV, 7(2), 2017. P. 575.
ii. “Subcell characterization in multijunction solar energy using pulsed light,” M. Rutzinger and G. Zimmermann, JPV, 7(2), 2017. P. 709. This is exactly our module partial shading approach. Also, Glenn Alers had the partial illumination as the same approach.
a. Advance Large area characterization of thin-film solar modules by electroluminescence and thermography imaging techniques,” A. Gerber … U Rau, Sol Eng. Mat and Sol Cells, 2014.
b. R. Eberle et al., Temperature coefficient Imaging for Silicon Solar Cells, July 2018 Notes: Use Voc from PL image to calculate dVoc/dT = - (Vg0-Voc+\gamma kT)/T .
Pixel by pixel variation in T and \gamma is the challenge. To get his information, first measure dVoc/dT from the difference between two PL images taken at two temperature at open-circuit. Voc is also known. Then the unknown is T(x,y) and \gamma(x,y)
c. D. Chung, Lifetime imaging of silicon bricks using the ratio of PL images with different wavelengths.
“Influence of soiling layer on quantum efficiency and spectral reflectance on crystalline silicon PV modules,” J. John …. G. Tamizhmani,
“Depth profiling of sodium in SiO2 films by secondary ion mass spectrometry, C. W. Magee and W. L. Harrington, APL, 33(2), 1978. P. 193.
“Systematic PV Module optimization with the cell-to-module (CTM) analysis software,” M. Mittag and M. Ebert, PV International, 97, (SmartCalc.CTM, ctm@ise.fraunhofer.de)
“A Fast Parameterized Model for Predicting PV System Performance under Partial Shading Conditions,” B. Meyers, M. Mikofski, and M. Anderson, 2016. P. 3173. (Statistical Neural network model)
“A novel fault diagnoiss technique for photovoltaic systems based on artificial neural networks,” W. Chine et al. Renewable Energy, 90, 501, 2016.
“Monitoring and remote failure detection of grid-connected PV systems based on satellite observations,” A. Drews, A. C. de Keizer … D. Heinemann, Solar Energy, 81, 548, 2007.
Problem Definition
Solution Strategies
Compact model for p-i-n solar cells
You can actually monitor the system-level performance as well as irradiance and temperature (both ambient and module) as a function of time using the below link. https://easyview.auroravision.net/easyview/index.html?entityId=1986490&lang=en
EdX has one on Solar Cell Physics and Technology by Arno Smets from Delfts
Coursera has one on Organic Solar Cells -- Theory and Practice. This is one is from Delft as well.
The first PV patent is available in the Smithsonian Institute website:
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/document-deep-dive-patent-first-practical-solar-cell-1-180947906/?no-ist
It describes a IBC-like cell. Another good article describes the early history of solar cells: http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy04osti/33947.pdf
Farenbruch & Bube "Fundamentals of Solar Cells" Not suitable for a class, but deeply thoughtful.
Ingo Muller, "History of Thermodynamics" ... a historical take on the development of this all important field, replete with interesting background stories. Martin Green "Solar Cells" (the red paperback; teaches solar cells beautifully without deriving S-Q!).
Wurfel "Physics of Solar Cells" (Too few figures make it a difficult read?)
Mertens "Photovoltaics Fundamentals, Technology, and Practice" Good practical broad introduction at an undergraduate Level.
J. Nelson "Physics of Solar Cells"
Archer "Clean Electricity from Photovoltaics"
Chen-Ming Hu "Solar Cell Technology" https://people.eecs.berkeley.edu/~hu/Solar-Cells-download.html
T. Bauer, PhD dissertation, 2006. http://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/4145877.pdf
Books that focus on Technology / Material
Chopra & Das - "Thin Film Solar Cells"
Green "3rd Generation PV"
Scheer & Schock "Chalcogenide Photovoltaics"
Krebs "Polymeric Solar Cells; Materials, Design, Manufacture"
Dr. P. Gevorkian, "Sustainable Energy Systems in Architectural Design -- A blueprint for green building" A good practical installation guide.
McEvoy, Markvart, and Castaner "Solar Cells, Materials, Manufacture, and Operation"
Other Sources of Information
http://www.pveducation.org/pvcdrom/solar-cell-operation/solar-cell-structure
Prof. Weber, edX course, "Energy 101", http://www.engr.utexas.edu/news/7683-webber-energy101
Energy at Movies. http://www.klru.org/episode/energy-at-the-movies/episode-details-2/