Charge carrier separation in solar cells

Abstract

The selective transport of electrons and holes to the two terminals of a solar cell is often attributed to an electric field, although well-known physics states that they are driven by gradients of quasi-Fermi energies. However, in an illuminated semiconductor, these forces are not selective, and they drive both charge carriers toward both contacts. This paper shows that the necessary selectivity is achieved by differences in the conductivities of electrons and holes in two distinct regions of the device, which, for one charge carrier, allows transport to one contact and block transport to the other contact.