Si Solar Cell 1D
Application ID: 35661
This tutorial uses a simple 1D model of a silicon solar cell to illustrate the basic steps to set up and perform a device physics simulation with the Semiconductor Module. A user-defined expression is used for the photo-generation rate and the result shows typical I-V and P-V curves of solar cells.
The carrier generation mechanism from the photovoltaic effect is not modeled in detail. Instead, a user-defined expression is used for the total generation rate, based on Beer's law with the empirical Si absorption spectra and an approximated AM1.5 spectra. The Shockley-Read-Hall model is employed to capture the main recombination effect. Under normal operating conditions, photo-generated carriers are swept to each side of the depletion region of the p-n junction. A small forward bias voltage is applied to extract the electrical power, given by the product of the photocurrent and the applied voltage.
To learn more about this example, see a related blog post: "Analyzing a Silicon Solar Cell Design with the Semiconductor Module".
This model example illustrates applications of this type that would nominally be built using the following products:
however, additional products may be required to completely define and model it. Furthermore, this example may also be defined and modeled using components from the following product combinations:
The combination of COMSOL® products required to model your application depends on several factors and may include boundary conditions, material properties, physics interfaces, and part libraries. Particular functionality may be common to several products. To determine the right combination of products for your modeling needs, review the Grille des Spécifications and make use of a free evaluation license. The COMSOL Sales and Support teams are available for answering any questions you may have regarding this.