Effect of the back contact electrode on the performances of the ultra-thin photovoltaic cells based on the CdS/CdTe heterojunction

Abstract

This paper proposes a comparative study between two sub-micrometric multi-layered photovoltaic cells, based on AII–BVI compounds, using different structures for the holes transport and collection electrode. Using the modified form of the Shockley equation, the diode factor, 𝑛𝑛, the reverse saturation current, 𝐼𝐼0, and the series 𝑅𝑅𝑠𝑠 and shunt 𝑅𝑅𝑠𝑠ℎ resistances were evaluated and their effect on the photovoltaic cells performances were discussed. The photovoltaic performances were analysed by current-voltage characteristics at illumination in standard AM 1.5 conditions, and the specific parameters were determined.