Surface and bulk passivation of multicrystalline silicon solar cells by ...

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Figure 1.1 World solar module productions 1980-2000 [16].
1.2 How Does Α Solar Cell Work
The most commonly known solar cell is configured as a large-area p-n junction made
from semiconductors. The electric field established across the p-n junction creates a
Bode that promotes current to flow in only one direction across the junction. The
diοde is made from a semiconductor with a band gap defined by Ε c — Ε ν (see Figure
1.2). When the energy of the incident photon is larger than the band gap, the photons
an be absorbed by the semiconductor p-n junction to create electron-hole pairs. The
electrons and holes are then driven by the internal electric field in the diode to
produce a photocurrent (light-generated current). In Figure 1.2, a schematic of the
photogeneration process in a semiconductor is depicted.