Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Luminescence and Thermal Imaging Applied to Half-Cut-Cell and Emitter-Wrap-Through-Cell Modules

Conference ·

Imaging techniques provide spatial details and visualization of module defects and degradation mechanisms that affect energy conversion efficiency and performance. We apply photoluminescence, electroluminescence, and dark lock-in thermography imaging techniques to evaluate new modules in their initial state and after applying stresses of damp heat, light-induced-degradation regeneration parameters, thermal cycling, and humidity-freeze cycles. One module uses emitter-wrap-through cells with back contacts connected to a metal-foil backplane, and the other is composed of half-cut cells. Imaging shows examples on non-uniform degradation and damage such as cells that degrade and recover under the applied conditions, cells with cracks and handling damage, and cells with increasing series resistance.

Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Renewable Power Office. Solar Energy Technologies Office
DOE Contract Number:
AC36-08GO28308
OSTI ID:
2309700
Report Number(s):
NREL/CP-5K00-86467; MainId:87240; UUID:e609038d-0bc7-40c3-a952-5e43158298b2; MainAdminId:71863
Resource Relation:
Conference: Presented at the 2023 IEEE 50th Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC), 11-16 June 2023, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (9)

Photographic surveying of minority carrier diffusion length in polycrystalline silicon solar cells by electroluminescence June 2005
Photoluminescence imaging of silicon wafers July 2006
Fast Photoluminescence Imaging of Silicon Wafers May 2006
Shunts due to laser scribing of solar cells evaluated by highly sensitive lock-in thermography January 2001
Imaging physical parameters of pre-breakdown Sites by lock-in thermography techniques December 2008
Lock-in Thermography January 2010
Stabilization of light-induced effects in Si modules for IEC 61215 design qualification September 2020
Contactless electroluminescence imaging for cell and module characterization June 2015
Applicability of Light Induced Luminescence for Characterization of Internal Series-Parallel Connected Photovoltaic Modules May 2022