A numerical study on photovoltaic cell performance at high temperature

Abstract

This research work presents the improvement of photovoltaic cell characteristics above room temperature. The effect of temperature on different characteristics of the photovoltaic cell has been analyzed mathematically. Among the characteristics of photovoltaic cell first of all, the light transmission and absorption characteristics were investigated. Then the open circuit voltage, short circuit current and the output power characteristics of the photovoltaic cell were investigated. Finally the effect of temperature on the rate of change of all these characteristics was analyzed using Si and GaAs in the active layer of the photovoltaic cell. The numerical results obtained were compared. The comparison results revealed that the absorption characteristics, open circuit voltage, short circuit current and the output power have been increased but the variation of these characteristics have been reduced significantly by using GaAs. Therefore GaAs can be considered as the best alternative material to fabricate solar cell in upcoming decades.