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

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CHAPTER 3<br />

MODELING OF SURFACE RECOMBINATION VELOCITY - ROLE OF THE<br />

DAMAGED LAYER<br />

3.1 Background<br />

3.1.1 Recombination Mechanisms in Silicon<br />

Illumination <strong>of</strong> a semiconductor junction with photons <strong>of</strong> sufficient energy creates<br />

electron-hole pairs (`generation'). Hence, the charge carrier concentration is higher under<br />

illumination than the dark (thermal equilibrium). Upon termination <strong>of</strong> illumination, the<br />

carrier concentrations return to their thermal equilibrium values. The responsible<br />

processes are called recombination.<br />

The recombination process occurs via defect levels (surface states) in the<br />

forbidden b<strong>and</strong>gap <strong>of</strong> the semiconductor. Three fundamental recombination processes are<br />

<strong>of</strong>ten addressed in semiconductors:<br />

—B<strong>and</strong>-to-b<strong>and</strong> recombination<br />

— Trap-assisted recombination<br />

—Auger recombination.<br />

3.1.1.1 B<strong>and</strong>-to-b<strong>and</strong> Recombination. B<strong>and</strong>-to-b<strong>and</strong> recombination is the inverse<br />

process to the absorption <strong>of</strong> light in a semiconductor. An electron in the conduction b<strong>and</strong><br />

falls into a non-occupied state (a hole) in the valence b<strong>and</strong>; the excess energy is released<br />

in the form <strong>of</strong> a photon. B<strong>and</strong>-to-b<strong>and</strong> recombination in a direct b<strong>and</strong>-gap semiconductor<br />

is shown schematically in Figure 3.1 [76].<br />

38

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