The Ideality Factor in Solar Cells The ideality factor is a crucial parameter in understanding the behavior of solar cells. It is derived from the slope of the dark-IV, Suns-Voc, and occasionally the Light-IV curve. Basic Cell Equation The basic cell equation in the dark is given by: $$I=I_{0}left(exp left(frac{q V}{n k T}right)-1right)$$ where: I…
The Significance of Carrier Lifetime in Solar Cells Understanding Carrier Lifetime in Solar Cells The lifetime of minority carriers plays a crucial role in the efficiency of solar cells. It is a complex concept influenced by various factors such as material quality, doping level, illumination intensity, and carrier injection. Types of Carrier Lifetime There are…
The Basics of Battery Operation Batteries function through the exchange of electrons between two chemical reactions: oxidation and reduction. What sets a battery apart from other oxidation/reduction reactions is the physical separation of these two reactions. This separation allows for the insertion of a load between the reactions. The voltage of a battery is determined…
Bismuth Trisulfide (Bi2S3): A Brief Overview Crystal Structure and Occurrence Bismuth trisulfide (Bi2S3) possesses an orthorhombic crystal structure with 4 molecules per unit cell. Each molecule comprises two bismuth atoms and 3 sulfide atoms, totaling 20 atoms per unit cell. It occurs naturally in the form of bismuthinite, characterized by a lead-gray streaked color with…
The Double Diode Model in Photovoltaics The behavior of photovoltaic devices can be accurately described by the double diode model, which is an extension of the single diode model. While the single diode model assumes a constant ideality factor, the double diode model considers the ideality factor as a function of the voltage across the…
The Power of PC1D Solar Cell Modelling Program Introduction PC1D is a widely used solar cell modelling program known for its speed, user-friendly interface, and continuous updates to reflect the latest cell models. It serves as a valuable tool for simulating new device performance and aiding new users in grasping the intricacies of device physics.…
Understanding Surface Recombination in Solar Cells Surface recombination is a critical factor that affects the performance of solar cells. It refers to the loss of minority carriers at the surfaces of the cell, which can significantly impact the overall efficiency of the device. Surface Recombination Lifetime The surface recombination lifetime (τs) is a key parameter…
The Complexity of Two-Dimensional Modelling Two-dimensional modelling presents a more intricate operation compared to one-dimensional modelling. The process of drawing devices in 2D poses a challenge, and the nodding process is notably more difficult. Additionally, 2D modelling requires computers with a larger memory capacity. Evolution of 2D Modelling With the advancement in technology, personal computers…
Understanding Electroluminescence in Solar Cells Electroluminescence is a technique that relies on the same principle as a light emitting diode (LED). It involves feeding current into a solar cell, which is essentially a large diode, leading to light emission through radiative recombination of carriers. In silicon solar cells, which are indirect bandgap semiconductors, most of…
Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images are invaluable for studying the intricate details of solar cells. These images can reveal features that are on the scale of microns, making them impossible to observe with an optical microscope. One significant advantage of an SEM is its superior depth of field, allowing the entire…
English
Afrikaans
Albanian
Amharic
Arabic
Armenian
Azerbaijani
Basque
Belarusian
Bengali
Bosnian
Bulgarian
Catalan
Cebuano
Chichewa
Chinese (Simplified)
Chinese (Traditional)
Corsican
Croatian
Czech
Danish
Dutch
Esperanto
Estonian
Filipino
Finnish
French
Frisian
Galician
Georgian
German
Greek
Gujarati
Haitian Creole
Hausa
Hawaiian
Hebrew
Hindi
Hmong
Hungarian
Icelandic
Igbo
Indonesian
Irish
Italian
Japanese
Javanese
Kannada
Kazakh
Khmer
Korean
Kurdish (Kurmanji)
Kyrgyz
Lao
Latin
Latvian
Lithuanian
Luxembourgish
Macedonian
Malagasy
Malay
Malayalam
Maltese
Maori
Marathi
Mongolian
Myanmar (Burmese)
Nepali
Norwegian
Pashto
Persian
Polish
Portuguese
Punjabi
Romanian
Russian
Samoan
Scottish Gaelic
Serbian
Sesotho
Shona
Sindhi
Sinhala
Slovak
Slovenian
Somali
Spanish
Sudanese
Swahili
Swedish
Tajik
Tamil
Telugu
Thai
Turkish
Ukrainian
Urdu
Uzbek
Vietnamese
Welsh
Xhosa
Yiddish
Yoruba
Zulu