Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
We apply the publicly available device modeling tool SC-Simul for simulating experiments with user-defined heterojunction diodes to discuss the role of the electric field in solar cells. For amorphous silicon/crystalline silicon heterodiodes, the role of interface defects, an amorphous silicon buffer layer and low-cost crystalline silicon is studied by simulation of current-voltage characteristics and photoluminescence. Photoluminescence is sensitive to the minority carrier density in the volume of the device and can be used to monitor minority carrier properties in these diodes.