Solcore: a multi-scale, Python-based library for modelling solar cells and semiconductor materials

Abstract

Computational models can provide significant insight into the operation mechanisms and deficiencies of photovoltaic solar cells. Solcore is a modular set of computational tools, written in Python 3, for the design and simulation of photovoltaic solar cells. Calculations can be performed on ideal, thermodynamic limiting behaviour, through to fitting experimentally accessible parameters such as dark and light IV curves and luminescence. Uniquely, it combines a complete

Coupled optoelectronic simulation and optimization of thin-film photovoltaic solar cells

“…Later, Anderson et al [17] used the RCWA for the photonic step and the standard FEM for the electronic step for simulating the same Schottky-barrier thin-film solar cell (which is not considered in this paper). Other researchers have also developed techniques for optoelectronic simulation [18,19,20].…”

“…The photonic and electronic steps described in this paper are closely related to components of the Solcore software package described recently by Alonso-Álvarez et al [20]. That software package includes an RCWA solver as well as a 1D DD solver based on quasi-Fermi levels.…”

“…The ultimate goal is to maximize the efficiency of the solar cell, and this goal distinguishes our work from that of Alonso-Álvarez et al [20]. Because of the presence of local minima, we use the DEA [3,4] for optimization.…”

Performance Analysis and Fault Diagnosis Method for Concentrator Photovoltaic Modules

“…A computational framework for evaluating the performance of multi-junction solar cells has been developed called SolCore [23]. Written in the Python3 programming language it enables multi-junction solar cells to be simulated from the bottom up, starting with fundamental semiconductor properties of the component materials through to the full device which is ultimately encapsulated by a double-diode equivalent circuit which in turn enables arrays of cells to be configured into a module [8] [24].…”

Analysis of the Rigorous Coupled Wave Approach for s-polarized light in gratings

“…The convergence of the field phasors in the vicinity of the grating in the p-polarization case was improved greatly by Li [7] by slightly reformulating the system of second-order ODEs. The RCWA is now standard for rapidly computing the near field in grating problems [1,2], and it is particularly attractive for designing optimal thin-film solar cells [12,13,14,15,16].…”