Salem M.S.Zekry A.Shaker A.Abouelatta M.Department of Electrical Comm. and Elec. Systems Eng.Faculty of Eng.Modern Science and Arts UniversityCairoEgypt; Department of Computer EngineeringFaculty of Computer ScienceHail UniversitySaudi Arabia; Department of Elec. and Comm. Eng.Faculty of Eng.Ain Shams UniversityCairo11517Egypt; Department of Eng. Physics and MathematicsFaculty of Eng.Ain Shams UniversityCairo11517Egypt2020-01-092020-01-0920179.78E+12https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC.2017.8366551https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/7750070ScopusThis paper aims to present the design and simulation of two proposed low cost solar cell structures; namely, pn and npn. Both structures are based on commercially available low cost heavily doped silicon wafers. Their operation relies on the idea of vertical generation and lateral collection of the light generated carriers. A detailed qualitative analysis of both structures is given and verified using advanced TCAD tools. The comparison is analyzed firstly regarding the illuminated IV characteristics. The open circuit voltage (V oc ), short circuit current density (J sc ), fill factor (F.F) and conversion efficiency (? c ) are calculated. Additionally, the optical performance is calculated and compared for both structures. The quantum efficiency, the spectral response and the absorption curve are compared. The presented results show that npn structure gives better electrical and optical performance than the pn one. � 2017 IEEE.EnglishConversion EfficiencyNpnPnSILVACOSolar cellsConversion efficiencyCostsEfficiencyOpen circuit voltageSilicon solar cellsSolar cellsDesign and simulationHeavily doped siliconsIV characteristicsLight-generated carriersLow-cost solar cellsOptical performanceQualitative analysisSilvacoSilicon wafersConference Paperhttps://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC.2017.8366551