2-DIMENSIONAL MINORITY-CARRIER FLOW IN HIGH-EFFICIENCY SILICON SOLAR-CELLS AT SHORT-CIRCUIT, OPEN-CIRCUIT AND MAXIMUM POWER POINT OPERATING-CONDITIONS

Two-dimensional effects in bifacially-contacted n(+) pp(+) high-efficiency silicon solar cells arising from the spacing of the front metal fingers, the emitter sheet resistivity, and the shading of the front fingers are investigated with a state-of-the-art numerical semiconductor device simulator. The current flow pattern in the solar cells is examined for the three operating conditions short-circuit, open-circuit, and maximum power point, and the implications of the observed two-dimensional effects on the electrical output parameters are discussed.