Modeling of the key characteristics of high-efficiency silicon solar cells with planar surfaces

Short-circuit current, open-circuit voltage, and photoconversion efficiency of silicon back contact solar cells (BCSC) with planar surfaces are calculated theoretically. In addition to the recombination channels usually considered in this kind of modeling, namely, radiative, Auger, Shockley-Read-Hall, and surface recombination, the model also takes into account the nonradiative trap-assisted exciton Auger recombination and re-combination in the space-charge region. It is established that these two recombination mechanisms are essential in the BCSCs in the maximum power operation regime. The model results are in good agreement with the experimental results from the literature.