Page 58 - Applied Photovoltaics

e –

e – h +
n
Ê
e – h +
p

electrons through lead
e – meet up with holes and
complete the circuit
Figure 3.2. The ideal short circuit flow of electrons and holes at a p-n junction.

collected surface
carriers recombination
e – h + e – h + e – h +
n

bulk recombination
e – h +
e – h + e – h + p

surface recombination
Figure 3.3. Possible modes of recombination of electron-hole pairs, showing
‘collection’ of carriers that do not recombine.

I

I L

V

(a) (b)
Figure 3.4. The effect of light on the current-voltage characteristics of a p-n
junction.

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