Measuring IV curves and subcell photocurrents in the presence of luminescent coupling

Steiner, Myles A.; Geisz, John F.; Moriarty, T.; France, Ryan M.; McMahon, William E.; Olson, J. M.; Kurtz, Sarah; Friedman, Daniel

doi:10.1109/pvsc-vol2.2012.6656785

Cited by 19 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 14 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Radiative coupling takes place when the light produced by a high bandgap junction due to radiative recombination is absorbed by a lower bandgap junction, contributing to its photocurrent and changing the operating point. It has been identified in numerous highly radiative materials such as quantum well solar cells and III-V MJ solar cells [62,63,64]. It appears as an artefact during the QE measurements of MJ solar cells [65], but it is also an effect that can be exploited to increase the performance of MJ devices [57] and their tolerance to spectral changes, resulting in superior annual energy yield [66].…”

Section: With Radiative Couplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Solcore: a multi-scale, Python-based library for modelling solar cells and semiconductor materials

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Computational models can provide significant insight into the operation mechanisms and deficiencies of photovoltaic solar cells. Solcore is a modular set of computational tools, written in Python 3, for the design and simulation of photovoltaic solar cells. Calculations can be performed on ideal, thermodynamic limiting behaviour, through to fitting experimentally accessible parameters such as dark and light IV curves and luminescence. Uniquely, it combines a complete

show abstract

Section: With Radiative Couplingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Solcore: a multi-scale, Python-based library for modelling solar cells and semiconductor materials

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…This is in fact the origin of the measurement artifact of the EQE. As what occurs for the devices with low shunt resistance and luminescent coupling in one of the subcells, the true EQE without artifacts may be extracted from a linear combination of the EQE of the subcells measured [12]. If V bias is further increased, the BC is eventually taken out from the breakdown region and enters into the flat part of its I-V curve, becoming the limiting subcell (i.e., I MJSC = I BC sc ).…”

Section: Evolution Of the Measured Eqe In The Artifact Regionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This artifact consists of a lower than expected EQE of the subcell under test plus the simultaneous measurement of some response in Implications of low breakdown voltage on EQE of MJSC's E. Barrigón et al wavelengths corresponding to another subcell. The origin of the so-called measurement artifact has been thoroughly discussed in recent years and has been related to a variety of causes such as a low shunt resistance in any junction [8,9], luminescent coupling [10][11][12] or a combination of both [13]. In brief, these papers show that the EQE of a subcell is not only determined by its own properties but also by the electro-optical interactions with other subcells in the stack.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In brief, these papers show that the EQE of a subcell is not only determined by its own properties but also by the electro-optical interactions with other subcells in the stack. Light and voltage bias (V bias ) conditions have been suggested to minimize or eliminate this artifact [8,14,15], and a procedure has been already established to obtain the real EQE out of a device with strong luminescent coupling [12,15,16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Implications of low breakdown voltage of component subcells on external quantum efficiency measurements of multijunction solar cells

Barrigón

Espinet‐González

Contreras

et al. 2015

Progress in Photovoltaics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The electrical and optical coupling between subcells in a multijunction solar cell affects its external quantum efficiency (EQE) measurement. In this study, we show how a low breakdown voltage of a component subcell impacts the EQE determination of a multijunction solar cell and demands the use of a finely adjusted external voltage bias. The optimum voltage bias for the EQE measurement of a Ge subcell in two different GalnP/GalnAs/Ge triple-junction solar cells is determined both by sweeping the external voltage bias and by tracing the I-V curve under the same light bias conditions applied during the EQE measurement. It is shown that the I-V curve gives rapid and valuable information about the adequate light and voltage bias needed, and also helps to detect problems associated with non-ideal I-V curves that might affect the EQE measurement. The results also show that, if a non-optimum voltage bias is applied, a measurement artifact can result. Only when the problems associated with a non-ideal I-V curve and/or a low breakdown voltage have been discarded, the measurement artifacts, if any, can be attributed to other effects such as luminescent coupling between subcells.

show abstract

“…Two tandem components of an IMM 3J solar cell have been analyzed: (1) GaInP/GaAs (lattice‐matched) and (2) GaAs/GaInAs (metamorphic) solar cells. We use the modeling and characterization techniques described in references to examine the LC, complemented by electroluminescence (EL) measurements and optical modeling to examine the performance of the device in the presence of LC and to determine the quality of the subcells .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of temperature on luminescent coupling and material quality evaluation in inverted lattice‐matched and metamorphic multi‐junction solar cells

Ochoa

Steiner

García

et al. 2015

Progress in Photovoltaics

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Inverted metamorphic multi-junction solar cells have reached efficiencies close to 46%. These solar cells contain very highquality materials that exhibit strong luminescent coupling between the junctions. The presence of luminescent coupling has a significant impact on the behavior of multi-junction solar cells affecting the optimal design of these devices. Because of the importance of studying devices under real operating conditions, the temperature dependence of the luminescent coupling is analyzed over a range of 25-120°C. Luminescent coupling analysis results show a reduction of the luminescent coupling current as a function of temperature in two tandem components of an inverted metamorphic triple junction solar cell such as GaInP/GaAs and GaAs/GaInAs solar cells. This reduction is quantified and examined by means of luminescent coupling analysis and modeling, electroluminescence measurements and optical modeling at the device and subcell level. The results of the models are verified and discussed.

show abstract

Measuring IV curves and subcell photocurrents in the presence of luminescent coupling

Cited by 19 publications

References 14 publications

Solcore: a multi-scale, Python-based library for modelling solar cells and semiconductor materials

Solcore: a multi-scale, Python-based library for modelling solar cells and semiconductor materials

Implications of low breakdown voltage of component subcells on external quantum efficiency measurements of multijunction solar cells

Influence of temperature on luminescent coupling and material quality evaluation in inverted lattice‐matched and metamorphic multi‐junction solar cells

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About