Recombination and Trapping in Multicrystalline Silicon Solar Cells
Abstract
In broad terms, this thesis is concerned with the measurement and interpretation of carrier lifetimes in multicrystalline silicon. An understanding of these lifetimes in turn leads to a clearer picture of the limiting mechanisms in solar cells made with this promising material, and points to possible paths for improvement. The work falls into three broad categories: gettering, trapping and recombination. A further section discusses a powerful new technique for characterising impurities in semiconductors in general, and provides an example of its application. ¶ ...