Combined effect of non-uniform illumination and surface resistance on the performance of a solar cell

Abstract

The performance of a partially illuminated solar cell is described. The measurement of the partially illuminated solar cell reveals considerable reduction of conversion efficiency, open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current as the illuminated area of the cell decreases. The possible mechanism responsible for these degradations has been explored by taking account of the losses through the dark region due to surface resistance. The dark region acts as a load for the illuminated portion of the cell. To estimate the losses through the dark region, theoretical calculations for the load characteristics of the cell using distributed parameter analysis have been carried out. The contribution of surface voltage responsible for the losses through the dark region has also been evaluated. The predicted theoretical results qualitatively resemble those obtained experimentally. © 1989 Taylor & Francis Ltd.