Modeling the Impact of Light Scattering on Photon Recycling in Solar Cells and LEDs

A comprehensive 1D optical multiscale model combining coherent as well as incoherent light transport with support for incoherent light scattering is presented. The model is based on a detailed-balance conforming formulation of dipole emission and an incoherent net-radiation model, extended to scattering interfaces in the optical layer stack where various models can be used to compute the scattering matrices. Given its unified framework treating emission and absorption, this model excellently lends itself to the analysis of photon recycling and luminescent coupling effects in solar cells and LEDs and can be easily coupled to a drift-diffusion model to further analyze the full opto-electronic behavior of the device.