Silvaco ATLAS as a solar cell modeling tool
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Authors
Michael, S.
Bates, A.D.
Green, M.S.
Subjects
Advisors
Date of Issue
2005-08-08
Date
08 August 2005
Publisher
IEEE Xplore
Language
Abstract
This paper presents research efforts conducted at the Naval Postgraduate School in the development of an accurate, physically-based solar cell model using the general-purpose ATLAS device simulator by Silvaco International. Unlike solar cell models based on a combination of discrete electrical components, this novel model extracts the electrical characteristics of a solar cell based on virtual fabrication of its physical structure, allowing for direct manipulation of materials, dimensions, and dopings. In addition, our model has the ability to accurately simulate more advanced solar cell design features including doping gradients, optical properties, back-surface fields, back-surface reflectors, windows, carrier traps, contact grid shading and complex light spectra. Available outputs include I-V characteristics, photogeneration mapping, and spectral response. The operation of the ATLAS software is described in detail and our model is applied to known single junction and multijunction solar cell designs. The results of the solar cell simulation in ATLAS are compared and shown to be similar to published experimental results.
Type
Article
Description
The article of record as published may be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/PVSC.2005.1488232
Series/Report No
Department
Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)
Organization
Naval Postgraduate School (U.S.)
Identifiers
NPS Report Number
Sponsors
Funder
Format
3 p.
Citation
Michael, S., A. D. Bates, and M. S. Green. "Silvaco ATLAS as a solar cell modeling tool." Conference Record of the Thirty-first IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference, 2005.. IEEE, 2005.
Distribution Statement
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.