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Solar Cell Performance Under Different Illumination Conditions

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 March 2011

Christian Gemmer  and
Markus B. Schubert
Christian Gemmer
Affiliation:
Institut für Physikalische Elektronik, Universität Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 47, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germanyemail: [email protected]
Markus B. Schubert
Affiliation:
Institut für Physikalische Elektronik, Universität Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 47, D-70569 Stuttgart, Germanyemail: [email protected]
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Abstract

We numerically simulate performance data of hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) and copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGS) based solar cells for various illumination conditions. For ease of comparison, we model typical single junctions with the very same software. The study allows us to evaluate the cell feasibility in different hybrid electronic systems like smart cards, wrist watches, transponder systems, and mobile sensors. At an illumination intensity of 1 sun, the optical bandgap of the absorber material and the series resistances determine the spectral sensitivity of the solar cell to particular illumination spectra. For intensities of 10-2 suns and so-called D65 spectrum, which represents daylight under cloudy skies, the efficiency of a-Si:H solar cells nearly equates the CIGS cell performance although the AM 1.5 efficiency of the CIGS diode exceeds the one of our a-Si:H cell by more than a factorof two. Infrared-weighted black body radiation leads to superior performance of the CIGS type, whereas for ultraviolet-weighted illumination the a-Si:H cell shows better performance. For intensities below 10-4 suns theexternal shunt resistance dominates the current-voltage characteristics of both cell types, resulting in poor performance independent of the incident spectrum. We complete our study by simulating the solar-powered charging process of a gold capacitor, which serves us as a model for the energy storage within a hybrid electronic system. The charging behavior under various realistic illumination conditions shows particular cellcharacteristics: high open circuit voltages qualify a-Si:H solar cells for electronic systems that require increased voltages and CIGS cells are suited for applications with higher current need.

Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 664: Symposium A – Amorphous and Heterogeneous Silicon-Based Films-2001 , 2001 , A25.9.1
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2001

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References

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