page_title: Theory of solar cells
section_title: Transparent conducting electrodes
hierarchical_section_title: Theory of solar cells / Equivalent circuit of a solar cell / Characteristic equation / Transparent conducting electrodes
caption_attribution_description: English: Schematic of charge collection by solar cell electrodes. Light transmits through transparent conducting electrode, which is absorbed by the active layer. It creates electron hole pair, which are collected by both the electrodes. If charge carriers have to travel high distances compared to their diffusion length, their may be recombination losses on the way. The collected charge carriers in turn lead to current flow. Thus, active layer thickness, transparent electrode design and diffusion length determines solar cell performance.
context_page_description: The theory of solar cells explains the process by which light energy in photons is converted into electric current when the photons strike a suitable semiconductor device. The theoretical studies are of practical use because they predict the fundamental limits of a solar cell, and give guidance on the phenomena that contribute to losses and solar cell efficiency.
context_section_description: Transparent conducting electrodes are essential components of solar cells. It is either a continuous film of indium tin oxide or a conducting wire network, in which wires are charge collectors while voids between wires are transparent for light. An optimum density of wire network is essential for the maximum solar cell performance as higher wire density blocks the light transmittance while lower wire density leads to high recombination losses due to more distance traveled by the charge carriers.
caption: Schematic of charge collection by solar cell electrodes.  Light transmits through transparent conducting electrode creating electron hole pairs, which are collected by both the electrodes.[10]