An introduction to the theory of photovoltaic cells

Abstract This paper seeks to furnish an elementary, but in some ways novel, introduction to the theoretical physical principles underlying solar cell operation. By simple concepts and mathematics this is achieved by first explaining the operation of p - n junctions and then focussing attention on ideas such as lifetimes, load matching and efficiencies.

[1]  R. J. Handy.  Theoretical analysis of the series resistance of a solar cell , 1967 .

[2]  G Güttler,et al.  Impurity photovoltaic effect in silicon , 1970 .

[3]  H. Queisser,et al.  Detailed Balance Limit of Efficiency of p‐n Junction Solar Cells , 1961 .

[4]  M. Wolf,et al.  A new look at silicon solar cell performance , 1971 .

[5]  H. Hovel,et al.  Ga/sub 1-x/Al/sub x//As--GaAs p-p-n heterojunction solar cells , 1973 .

[6]  T. Velde.  Mathematical analysis of a heterojunction, applied to the copper sulphide-cadmium sulphide solar cell , 1973 .

[7]  H. Queisser.  Forward characteristics and efficiencies of silicon solar cells , 1962 .

[8]  Wayne T. Picciano.  Determination of the solar cell equation parameters, including series resistance, from empirical data , 1969 .

[9]  P. Landsberg,et al.  Phonon cascade theory , 1966 .

[10]  Sigurd Wagner,et al.  CuInSe2/CdS heterojunction photovoltaic detectors , 1974 .

[11]  D. A. Evans,et al.  Thermodynamic Limits for Some Light-Producing Devices , 1968 .

[12]  R. Mytton.  The present potential of CdS solar cells as a future contender for photovoltaic space and terrestrial power applications , 1974 .

[13]  A. Rose.  Photovoltaic Effect Derived from the Carnot Cycle , 1960 .

[14]  S. Wagner,et al.  p−InP/n−CdS solar cells and photovoltaic detectors , 1975 .

[15]  T. Moss,et al.  Calculated efficiencies of practical GaAs and Si solar cells including the effect of built-in electric fields , 1968 .

[16]  P. Landsberg,et al.  Radiative and Auger processes in semiconductors , 1973 .