Open-circuit analysis of thin film heterojunction solar cells

A new technique is proposed for the calculation of the width W of space charge region and consequently the concentration of uncompensated acceptors NA–ND, which is based on the open-circuit analysis of thin film heterojunction solar cells illuminated by monochromatic light with the wavelength within photosensitivity region. The proposed method was simulated under different values of the theoretically considered parameters (ideality coefficient n, saturation current I0 and shunt resistance Rsh) of a CdS/CdTe heterojunction solar cell. The calculated values of W and NA–ND were established to be dependent on the mentioned above electrical parameters.

► The analysis of a thin film CdS/CdTe solar cell illuminated by monochromatic light was carried out under open-circuit conditions.
► A simple approach for the calculation of W and NA–ND was proposed.
► The effect of n, I0 and Rs on the calculated values of W and NA–ND was shown.