Evaluation of the minority carrier diffusion length and edge surface-recombination velocity in GaAs p/n solar cells

Abstract
The hole minority carrier diffusion length (Lp) and the edge surface-recombination velocity (Vs) were measured as a function of distance (x) from the p-n junction in GaAs p/n concentrator solar cells. The measured Vs values were used in a theoretical expression for the normalized electron beam-induced current. A fit of the experimental data was used to determine Lp. Lp measured in irradiated cells showed a marked reduction as compared to the unirradiated cells. Our results were compared to results obtained in previous studies that did not account for Vs.