Chapter 10: CPV Multijunction Solar Cell Characterization
Abstract
Characterization of solar cells can be divided into two types: the first is measurement of electrooptical semiconductor device parameters, and the second is determination of electrical conversion efficiency. This chapter reviews the multijunction concepts that are necessary for understanding Concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) cell characterization techniques, and describes how CPV efficiency is defined and used. For any I-V measurement of a multijunction cell, the sun simulator spectrum has to be adjusted in a way that all junctions generate the same photocurrent ratios with respect to each other as under reference conditions. The chapter discusses several procedures for spectral irradiance adjustments of solar simulators, essential for multijunction measurements. It overviews the light sources and optics commonly used in simulators for CPV cells under concentration. Finally, the chapter talks about the cell area, quantum efficiency (QE), and current-voltage (I-V) curve measurements that are needed to characterize cells as a function of irradiance.
- Authors:
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1274105
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/CH-5J00-63358
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC36-08GO28308
- Resource Type:
- Book
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 14 SOLAR ENERGY; 47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION; concentrator solar cell characterization; current-voltage curve; electrical conversion efficiency; multijunction solar cell; solar simulators; spectral irradiance adjustments
Citation Formats
Osterwald, Carl R., and Siefer, Gerald. Chapter 10: CPV Multijunction Solar Cell Characterization. United States: N. p., 2016.
Web. doi:10.1002/9781118755655.ch10.
Osterwald, Carl R., & Siefer, Gerald. Chapter 10: CPV Multijunction Solar Cell Characterization. United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118755655.ch10
Osterwald, Carl R., and Siefer, Gerald. 2016.
"Chapter 10: CPV Multijunction Solar Cell Characterization". United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118755655.ch10.
@article{osti_1274105,
title = {Chapter 10: CPV Multijunction Solar Cell Characterization},
author = {Osterwald, Carl R. and Siefer, Gerald},
abstractNote = {Characterization of solar cells can be divided into two types: the first is measurement of electrooptical semiconductor device parameters, and the second is determination of electrical conversion efficiency. This chapter reviews the multijunction concepts that are necessary for understanding Concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) cell characterization techniques, and describes how CPV efficiency is defined and used. For any I-V measurement of a multijunction cell, the sun simulator spectrum has to be adjusted in a way that all junctions generate the same photocurrent ratios with respect to each other as under reference conditions. The chapter discusses several procedures for spectral irradiance adjustments of solar simulators, essential for multijunction measurements. It overviews the light sources and optics commonly used in simulators for CPV cells under concentration. Finally, the chapter talks about the cell area, quantum efficiency (QE), and current-voltage (I-V) curve measurements that are needed to characterize cells as a function of irradiance.},
doi = {10.1002/9781118755655.ch10},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1274105},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Apr 15 00:00:00 EDT 2016},
month = {Fri Apr 15 00:00:00 EDT 2016}
}