Complete optoelectronic simulation of patterned silicon solar cells

In this paper, patterned silicon solar cells are fully modelled optically and electrically using Lumerical Solutions’ optical simulation software, FDTD Solutions and electrical simulation solver, DEVICE. The optical simulation calculates the spatial distribution of photon absorption in the silicon when the cell is illuminated by unpolarized sunlight with the AM1.5 solar spectral intensity. The photon absorption data is converted into a spatial generation rate of electron-hole pairs. The electrical simulation uses this generation rate to calculate the collection efficiency of electron and hole carriers, accurately accounting for surface and bulk recombination in silicon. Two main designs are simulated, each with periodic structures: a grating structure and a square pyramid structure. The short-circuit current as well as the overall conversion efficiency for the two devices are calculated.