In traditional band-to-band Auger recombination theory, the low-injection carrier lifetime is an inverse quadratic function of the doping density. However, for doping densities below about , the low-injection Auger lifetimes measured in the past on silicon were significantly smaller than predicted by this theory. Recently, a new theory has been developed [A. Hangleiter and R. Häcker, Phys. Rev. Lett. 65, 215 (1990)] that attributes these deviations to Coulombic interactions between mobile charge carriers. This theory has been supported experimentally to a high degree of accuracy in n-type silicon; however, no satisfactory support for it has been found in p-type silicon for doping densities below . In this work, we investigate the most recent lifetime measurements of crystalline silicon and support experimentally the Coulomb-enhanced Auger theory in p-type silicon in the doping range down to . Based on the experimental data, we present an empirical parameterisation of the low-injection Auger lifetime. This parameterisation is valid in n- and p-type silicon with arbitrary doping concentrations and for temperatures between 70 and 400 K. We implement this parameterisation into a numerical device simulator to demonstrate how the new Auger limit influences the open-circuit voltage capability of silicon solar cells. Further, we briefly discuss why the Auger recombination rates are less enhanced under high-injection conditions than under low-injection conditions.
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15 November 1997
Research Article|
November 15 1997
Assessment and parameterisation of Coulomb-enhanced Auger recombination coefficients in lowly injected crystalline silicon
Pietro P. Altermatt;
Pietro P. Altermatt
Photovoltaics Special Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia
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Jan Schmidt;
Jan Schmidt
Institut für Solarenergieforschung Hameln-Emmerthal (ISFH), 31860 Emmerthal, Germany
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Gernot Heiser;
Gernot Heiser
School of Computer Science and Engineering,
Photovoltaics Special Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney 2052, Australia
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Armin G. Aberle
Armin G. Aberle
Institut für Solarenergieforschung Hameln-Emmerthal (ISFH), 31860 Emmerthal, Germany
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J. Appl. Phys. 82, 4938–4944 (1997)
Article history
Received:
June 10 1997
Accepted:
August 11 1997
Citation
Pietro P. Altermatt, Jan Schmidt, Gernot Heiser, Armin G. Aberle; Assessment and parameterisation of Coulomb-enhanced Auger recombination coefficients in lowly injected crystalline silicon. J. Appl. Phys. 15 November 1997; 82 (10): 4938–4944. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.366360
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