A Comparison of Models to Optimize Partial Rear Contact Solar Cells

The optimization of solar cells with localized rear contacts usually requires numerical simulation. Here we compare Sentaurus Device to a simpler Conductive Boundary (CoBo) simulator and to an approximate Geometric model. Optimization examples are given for devices with linear rear contacts in low and high injection conditions. The three modelling tools are in good agreement for high quality devices with negligible bulk and rear surface recombination. Discrepancies between the three models, generally small, are identified and explained.