PC1D version 5: 32-bit solar cell modeling on personal computers

The computer program PC1D is widely used for modeling crystalline solar cells. This paper describes a new version of the program which takes advantage of the latest graphical environments of personal computers to offer improved visualization of cell design and operation, simpler comparison of experimental data with simulation results, greatly increased calculation speed, and improved models for generation and recombination effects. We demonstrate the use of some of these features to explore the importance of trap-assisted tunneling at heavily doped junctions in material with low carrier lifetime, as is often encountered in thin polycrystalline silicon cells.