Evaluation of impedance spectroscopy as a tool to characterize degradation mechanisms in silicon photovoltaics

Yeow, Travis; Sun, Jing; Zheng, Yi; Jaubert, Jean-Nicolas; Musselman, Kevin P.

doi:10.1016/j.solener.2019.03.088

Cited by 16 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…This is because their comparably lower R sh contributes to the apparent reduction of the R 2 value in the forward bias voltage range, and the loading of a higher forward bias voltage (> 0.45 V) to these PV cells was difficult with the impedance spectrometer used in this study, as also suggested by Yeow et al . [ 58 ]. However, for the bias voltage dependencies of R 2 and C */ C 2 in other cells, there were small but definite differences among the crack categories.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Solar cell cracks within a photovoltaic module: Characterization by AC impedance spectroscopy

Tanahashi

Hsu²

2022

PLoS ONE

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Various cell crack modes (with or without electrically inactive cell areas) can be induced in crystalline silicon photovoltaic (PV) cells within a PV module through natural thermomechanical stressors such as strong winds, heavy snow, and large hailstones. Although degradation in the performance of PV modules by cell cracks has been reported occasionally, the mode-dependent evolutions in the electrical signatures of cracks have not yet been elucidated. In this study, we propose that the reduction of the time constant in the AC impedance spectra, which is caused by the elevation of minority-carrier recombination in the p–n junction of a PV cell, is a ubiquitous signature of cracked PV cells encapsulated in a commercially available PV module. Several other characteristics derived from the illuminated current-voltage (I–V) and dark I–V data significantly evolved only in PV cells with inactive cell areas. We also propose that the evaluation by carrier recombination is a crucial diagnostic technique for detecting all crack modes, including microcracks, in wafer-based PV modules.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Solar cell cracks within a photovoltaic module: Characterization by AC impedance spectroscopy

Tanahashi

Hsu²

2022

PLoS ONE

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“…[86], Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy is gaining interest to determine the electrical parameters of damaged cells and distinguish different degradation modes and PID processes. [41,[123][124][125]…”

Section: At the Module Levelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Review of Potential‐Induced Degradation in Bifacial Photovoltaic Modules

Molto

Mahmood

et al. 2023

Energy Tech

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Bifacial modules are increasingly deployed in the field and are expected to represent half of the market share within 10 years. Their rear structure differs from monofacial modules to allow additional light absorption. However, it brings new reliability challenges to address. In particular, the risk of potential‐induced degradation (PID) is increased as both module sides are impacted. Different PID processes have been identified in the literature: shunting type (PID‐s), polarization type (PID‐p), Na penetration type, and corrosion type (PID‐c). Their occurrence depends on the photovoltaic system configuration as well as the module's materials. Apart from PID‐s, PID processes are not well understood and extensive research is needed to elucidate the PID scenario and underlying mechanisms. Herein, current knowledge about PID processes and their impact on the main bifacial modules in the market are gathered with the aim to guide future research. Bifacial module technologies and leakage current paths leading to PID are described. Indoor and outdoor PID testing methods are detailed. For each bifacial module technology, the PID processes are investigated with their indicators, mechanism and recovery process. PID‐impacting factors and limitation solutions are finally reported and a state of the art on PID modeling is presented.

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“…This analysis has been mainly used in dye-sensitized and organic solar cells, which can characterize charge carrier lifetimes under a range of operating biases and illumination intensities [13][14][15][16][17][18]. Crystalline Si solar cells have been extensively studied by impedance spectroscopy [12,[19][20][21][22]. Regarding thin-film solar cells, however, there have been a few reports about CdTe [23], CIGS [24,25], CZTSSe with impedance spectroscopy [26,27] and CZTSSe devices with modulus spectroscopy [28].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Estimation of front and back junctions of CZTSe:Ge solar cells by combined modulus and impedance spectroscopy

Lee¹,

Price²,

Saucedo³

2021

J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys.

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We have fabricated and investigated CTSe:Ge bi-layer devices by modulus spectroscopy combined with impedance spectroscopy to understand the electrical properties of hetero- and back-contact junctions. The equivalent circuit model is developed to decouple the properties of each junction at different frequency ranges. Modeling and numerical simulations with the in-house MATLAB modeling suites connected to external simulators, such as Sentaurus TCAD and LEVM/LEVMW software are conducted to estimate the impact of each junction component to modulus and impedance spectroscopy with a parallel equivalent circuit combination of resistance and capacitance components. The fabricated devices show doping concentration of 6.4 × 1015/cm3, and the conversion efficiency is 8.1% based on capacitance–voltage and current–voltage characterization. From the characterization and modeling, the built-in potential of the hetero-junction is estimated as 801 meV, which is ∼10% smaller than the ideal case from TCAD, 894 meV. Conversely, the built-in potential of the back contact junction is 428 meV. The total apparent built-in potential is estimated to be 373 meV from the Mott–Schottky equation.

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Evaluation of impedance spectroscopy as a tool to characterize degradation mechanisms in silicon photovoltaics

Cited by 16 publications

References 36 publications

Solar cell cracks within a photovoltaic module: Characterization by AC impedance spectroscopy

Solar cell cracks within a photovoltaic module: Characterization by AC impedance spectroscopy

Review of Potential‐Induced Degradation in Bifacial Photovoltaic Modules

Estimation of front and back junctions of CZTSe:Ge solar cells by combined modulus and impedance spectroscopy

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