Improvement in the aged silicon solar cells parameters by thermal annealing

Abstract

In this paper, to simulate and accelerate the effects of aging, solar cells were exposed to the different doses of co60 gamma radiation. The current–voltage (I–V) characteristics of mono-crystalline solar cells under AM1.5 illumination condition were studied before and after the gamma irradiation. Experimental results showed that the solar cell parameters such as open circuit voltage (Voc), short circuit current (Isc) and efficiency (η) decrease with the increase of the gamma radiation doses. The effect of subsequent thermal annealing on solar cells degraded by gamma irradiation is investigated. A significant improvement in the electric parameters of by low doses gamma irradiated silicon solar cells is observed after the thermal annealing.