Optimized Design of Back-Contact Thin-Film GaAs Solar Cells

Abstract

In this work, we attempt to find the optimal design parameters for the doping concentration, thickness of the base region, the length and pitch of back electrodes by employing a validated Sentaurus TCAD model. Through current-voltage characteristics, one could determine best power conversion efficiency and the correlation between design parameters. While optical shadowing is eliminated in the back-contact design, it is found that electrical shading affects the cell performance and is sensitive to the electrode length and pitch. Through minimizing the length of anode, the efficiency can be elevated significantly. Moreover, a relatively wide cathode results in efficient carrier separation and superior transportation properties. Based on these simulation outcomes, we are able to optimize the design of back-contact back-junction GaAs solar cells