Y. Baghzouz Professor of Electrical Engineering（y Baghzouz电气工程教授）.pdfVIP

EE 495-695 Solar Cells + Shading Y. Baghzouz Professor of Electrical Engineering SOLAR CELL STRUCTURE Light shining on the solar cell produces both a current and a voltage to generate electric power. This process requires a material in which the absorption of light raises an electron to a higher energy state, and the movement of this higher energy electron from the solar cell into an external circuit. The electron then dissipates its energy in the external circuit and returns to the solar cell. A variety of materials and processes can potentially satisfy the requirements for photovoltaic energy conversion, but in practice nearly all photovoltaic energy conversion uses semiconductor materials in the form of a p-n junction . 1 2 3 4 I-V Curve Revisited Characteristic Resistance The characteristic resistance of a solar cell is the output resistance of the solar cell at its maximum power point. If the resistance of the load is equal to the characteristic resistance of the solar cell, then the maximum power is transferred to the load and the solar cell operates at its maximum power point. The value of this resistance can be approximated by Effect of Parasitic Resistances Resistive effects in solar cells reduce the efficiency of the solar cell by dissipating power in the resistances. The most common parasitic resistances are series resistance and shunt resistance. Series resistance in a solar cell is due to : the movement of current through the p-n materials of the solar cell; the contact resistance between the metal contact and the silicon; the resistance of the top and rear metal contacts. The series resistance reduces the fill factor, but