Victor G. Karpov, Diana Shvydka

Physics of Thin-Film Photovoltaics (eBook, PDF)

• Format: PDF

Produktbeschreibung

It appears rather paradoxical that thin-film photovoltaics (PVs) are made of materials that seem unacceptable from the classical PV perspective, and yet they often outperform classical PV. This exciting new volume solves that paradox by switching to a new physics paradigm. Many concepts here fall beyond the classical PV scope. The differences lie in device thinness (microns instead of millimeters) and morphology (non-crystalline instead of crystalline). In such structures, the charge carriers can reach electrodes without recombination. On the other hand, thin disordered structures render a possibility of detrimental lateral nonuniformities ("recombination highways"), and their energy spectra give rise to new recombination modes. The mechanisms of thermal exchange and device degradation are correspondingly unique. The overall objective of this book is to give a self-contained in-depth discussion of the physics of thin-film systems in a manner accessible to both researchers and students. It covers most aspects of the physics of thin-film PV, including device operations, material structure and parameters, thin-film junction formation, analytical and numerical modeling, concepts of large area effects and lateral non-uniformities, physics of shunting (both shunt growth and effects), and device degradation. Also, it reviews a variety of physical diagnostic techniques proven with thin-film PV. Whether for the veteran engineer or the student, this is a must-have for any library.

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Produktdetails

• Verlag: John Wiley & Sons
• Seitenzahl: 288
• Erscheinungstermin: 18. Oktober 2021
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9781119651154
• Artikelnr.: 62847915

Autorenporträt

Victor G Karpov, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Toledo in the USA, having received his doctorate from Leningrad Polytechnical Institute. With almost 40 years of teaching and industry experience, he has published nearly 200 scholarly papers and has numerous grants and awards to his credit. Diana Shvydka, PhD, is a professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Toledo, having also received her doctorate from the University of Toledo. With almost 20 years of teaching and industry experience, she has published over 100 papers in scientific and technical journals and holds numerous patents.

Inhaltsangabe

Preface xi

Part I General and Thin Film PV 1

I. Introduction to Thin Film PV 1

A. The Origin of PV. Junctions 1

B. Fundamental Material Requirements 3

C. Charge Transport. Definition of Thin Film PV 4

D. Distinctive Features of Thin Film PV 7

References 11

Part II One-Dimensional (1D) Diodes and PV 13

II. 1D Diode 13

A. Metal-Insulator-Metal Diode 13

B. Schottky, Reach-Through, and Field-Compensation Diodes 19

1. Schottky Diode 19

2. Reach Through Diodes 21

3. Field Compensation Diode 23

C. P-N Homo-Junctions 24

D. Heterojunctions 26

E. Other Relevant Types of Diodes 28

F. Field Reversal Diode: A Counterintuitive Case 29

G. Cat's Whisker Diode 30

III. 1D Solar Cell 32

A. 1D Solar Cell Base Model 32

B. Numerical Modeling of 1D PV 38

1. Governing Equations 39

2. Device Model Parameters 40

3. Some Modeling Results 42

IV. Photovoltaic Parameters 43

A. Second-Level Parameters 44

B. Practical Solar Cells and Third-Level Metrics 46

C. Indicative Facts 49

D. Phenomenological Interpretation. Ideal Diode with Other Circuitry Elements 52

V. Case Study 54

A. Field Reversal PV 54

1. Analytical Approach 55

2. Numerical Modeling of the Field Reversal Device Operations 60

B. Miraculous Back Contact 68

References 72

Part III Beyond 1D: Lateral Effects in Thin Film PV 79

VI. Examples of Multidimensional Numerical Modeling 79

VII. Introduction to Random Multidimensional Phenomena 81

VIII. Lateral Screening Length 84

A. Shunt Screening 84

B. Bias Screening 85

C. Quantitative Approach and Linear Screening Regime 88

IX. Schottky Barrier Nonuniformities 91

X. Semi-Shunts 93

XI. Random Diodes 96

A. Weak Diodes 96

B. Random Diode Arrays in Solar Cells 99

C. Random Diode Arrays in PV Modules and Fields 105

XII. Nonuniformity Observations 109

A. Cell Level Observations 109

B. Module Level Observations 118

XIII. Nonuniformity Treatment 121

References 125

Part IV Electronic Processes in Materials of Thin Film PV 131

XIV. Morphology, Fluctuations, and the Density of States 132

A. The Materials of Thin Film PV are Fundamentally Different 132

B. Noncrystalline Morphology 134

C. Long Range Fluctuations of Potential Energy 136

D. Random Potential in Very Thin Structures 139

E. Numerical Estimates and Implications 142

XV. Electronic Transport 144

A. Band Transport in Random Potential 144

B. Hopping Transport Through Thin Noncrystalline Films 147

1. Hopping Between Ideal Electrodes 149

2. Hopping Between Resistive Electrodes 151

3. Critical Area and Mesoscopic Fluctuations 153

XVI. Recombination in Quasi-Continuous Spectrum 155

XVII. Noncrystalline Junctions 161

XVIII. Piezo and Pyro-PV 164

A. The Nature of Piezo-PV 164

B. Piezo-PV Observations 169

C. The Significance of Piezo-PV 171

References 174

Part V Electro-Thermal Instabilities in Thin Film PV 181

XIX. The Two-Diode Model 182

A. Linear Stability Analysis 183

B. The Two-Diode Modeling: Numerical Estimates and Scaling 184

XX. Distributed Diode Model 186

A. Introduction 186

B