8-12 July 2019
Polokwane
Africa/Johannesburg timezone
Deadline for papers for the conference proceedings is 15 August 2019

The potential and effect of diffusion capacitance on fast point-by-point Current-Voltage measurements of photovoltaic cells in LBIC

10 Jul 2019, 12:20
20m
Protea The Ranch Hotel (Polokwane)

Protea The Ranch Hotel

Polokwane

Oral Presentation Track F - Applied Physics Applied Physics

Speaker

Dr Frederik Vorster (NMMU)

Description

The use of the Light Beam Induced Current (LBIC) measurement technique to study the spatial distribution of performance-limiting defects in photovoltaic (PV) cells is well established. The point-by-point current-voltage (I-V) measurements that are measured when scanning a light beam across a PV cell are used to extract and map comparative device and performance parameters qualitatively. The well-known capacitive hysteresis effect caused by a rapidly changing bias when fast I-V measurements are made is also observed during spot-illuminated LBIC I-V measurements. Fast I-V measurements are necessary to reduce the total LBIC scan time when more than 10 000 I-V measurements are done per square centimetre of cell area. Normally care needs to be taken to avoid erroneous parameter extractions due to this hysteresis effect. This paper details diffusion capacitance that gives rise to the hysteresis effect and its link with the density of charge carriers generated by the LBIC beam probe. The results show that in addition to extracted I-V parameters, the spatially distributed diffusion capacitance measurements may be developed as a useful tool to augment normal LBIC I-V measurements to map and identify performance limiting defects and perturbations present in PV cells.

Apply to be<br> considered for a student <br> &nbsp; award (Yes / No)?

No

Level for award<br>&nbsp;(Hons, MSc, <br> &nbsp; PhD, N/A)?

N/A

Primary author

Dr Frederik Vorster (NMMU)

Co-authors

Prof. Ernest van Dyk (Mandela University) Mr Ross Dix-Peek (NMMU)

Presentation Materials

There are no materials yet.