Simulation-Based Evolutionary Approach to Electrical Characteristic Optimization of p-i-n Silicon Thin-Film Solar Cells

Abstract

Solar cell is one of the most potent candicates for the next-generation energy technology due to its enviromental friendliness and renewable merit. Nowaday the major challenge is to lower fabrication cost while significantly enhancing the energy conversion energy. In this work, a simulator-based optimization for a-Si thin film solar cell with p-i-n structure is presented. Using genetic algorithm and electro-optical simulation, running on UOF platform, the optimal designs with respect to energy conversion efficiency, fill factor, short-circuited current density, and open-circuited voltage are obtained. Besides, the sensitivity analyses for different four cases are also conducted to investigate the degradation due to parameter variations. The best overall performance of a single layer a-Si thin film solar cell is achieved with energy conversion efficiency of 7.90% and an average efficiency is 7.35% if considers parameter variations.