Characterization and modeling of reverse-bias breakdown in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 photovoltaic devices

Guthrey, Harvey L.; Nardone, Marco; Johnston, Steven; Liu, Jun; Norman, Andrew; Moseley, John; Al-Jassim, Mowafak M.

doi:10.1002/pip.3168

Title: Characterization and modeling of reverse-bias breakdown in Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ photovoltaic devices

Abstract

Abstract Partial shading of series‐connected thin‐film photovoltaic modules can force shaded cells into reverse bias, which can cause rapid and irreversible power loss and reduce the practical module lifespan. Unfortunately, this is a common occurrence in field‐deployed modules due to the myriad of environmental factors that can result in partial shading. In this work, we identify as‐grown nonuniformities in the Cu(In _, Ga)Se ₂ (CIGS) absorber layers as the points of origin for the damage induced under reverse‐bias conditions. The structure and chemistry associated with inclusions and voids in the CIGS films cause these features to act as resistive heating elements in reverse‐bias conditions. This localized resistive heating provides the energy required to induce thermal runaway breakdown in the CIGS devices, resulting in damage to charge collection and reduced active area of a device. This mechanism is also described with a robust device model to connect the experimental observations with their physical origins.

Authors:

^[1]; Nardone, Marco ^[2]; Johnston, Steven ^[1]; Liu, Jun ^[1];

^[1]; Moseley, John ^[1]; Al-Jassim, Mowafak M. ^[1]

National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Bowling Green State Univ., OH (United States)

Publication Date:: Mon Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 2019

Research Org.:: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (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:: 1545000

Alternate Identifier(s):: OSTI ID: 1542519

Report Number(s):: NREL/JA-5K00-72230
Journal ID: ISSN 1062-7995

Grant/Contract Number:: AC36-08GO28308

Resource Type:: Accepted Manuscript

Journal Name:: Progress in Photovoltaics

Additional Journal Information:: Journal Volume: 27; Journal Issue: 9; Journal ID: ISSN 1062-7995

Publisher:: Wiley

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

Subject:: 14 SOLAR ENERGY; CIGS solar cell; lock-in thermography; modeling partial shading; reverse-bias breakdown

Citation Formats


                    Guthrey, Harvey L., Nardone, Marco, Johnston, Steven, Liu, Jun, Norman, Andrew, Moseley, John, and Al-Jassim, Mowafak M. Characterization and modeling of reverse-bias breakdown in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 photovoltaic devices.  United States: N. p., 2019. 
Web.  doi:10.1002/pip.3168.

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                    Guthrey, Harvey L., Nardone, Marco, Johnston, Steven, Liu, Jun, Norman, Andrew, Moseley, John, & Al-Jassim, Mowafak M. Characterization and modeling of reverse-bias breakdown in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 photovoltaic devices.  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1002/pip.3168

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                    Guthrey, Harvey L., Nardone, Marco, Johnston, Steven, Liu, Jun, Norman, Andrew, Moseley, John, and Al-Jassim, Mowafak M. Mon .  
"Characterization and modeling of reverse-bias breakdown in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 photovoltaic devices".  United States.  https://doi.org/10.1002/pip.3168.  https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1545000.

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@article{osti_1545000,

  title        = {Characterization and modeling of reverse-bias breakdown in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 photovoltaic devices},

  author       = {Guthrey, Harvey L. and Nardone, Marco and Johnston, Steven and Liu, Jun and Norman, Andrew and Moseley, John and Al-Jassim, Mowafak M.},

  abstractNote = {Abstract Partial shading of series‐connected thin‐film photovoltaic modules can force shaded cells into reverse bias, which can cause rapid and irreversible power loss and reduce the practical module lifespan. Unfortunately, this is a common occurrence in field‐deployed modules due to the myriad of environmental factors that can result in partial shading. In this work, we identify as‐grown nonuniformities in the Cu(In , Ga)Se 2 (CIGS) absorber layers as the points of origin for the damage induced under reverse‐bias conditions. The structure and chemistry associated with inclusions and voids in the CIGS films cause these features to act as resistive heating elements in reverse‐bias conditions. This localized resistive heating provides the energy required to induce thermal runaway breakdown in the CIGS devices, resulting in damage to charge collection and reduced active area of a device. This mechanism is also described with a robust device model to connect the experimental observations with their physical origins.},

  doi          = {10.1002/pip.3168},

  journal      = {Progress in Photovoltaics},

  number       = 9,

  volume       = 27,

  place        = {United States},

  year         = {Mon Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 2019},

  month        = {Mon Jul 15 00:00:00 EDT 2019}

}

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Journal Article:

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https://doi.org/10.1002/pip.3168

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Cited by: 5 works

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Figures / Tables:

Table 1: EDS data showing the atomic % of Cu, Ga, In, and Se in the two regions specified in Fig. 5d.

All figures and tables (15 total)

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Works referenced in this record:

Thermal and Electrical Effects of Partial Shade in Monolithic Thin-Film Photovoltaic Modules
journal, November 2015

Silverman, Timothy J.; Deceglie, Michael G.; Sun, Xingshu
IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics, Vol. 5, Issue 6
DOI: 10.1109/JPHOTOV.2015.2478071

Characterization of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 photovoltaic modules
journal, May 2007

Dyk, E. E. van; Radue, C.; Gxasheka, A. R.
Thin Solid Films, Vol. 515, Issue 15
DOI: 10.1016/j.tsf.2006.12.065

Coupled electron–heat transport in nonuniform thin film semiconductor structures
journal, October 2012

Karpov, V. G.
Physical Review B, Vol. 86, Issue 16
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.86.165317

Shading-induced failure in thin-film photovoltaic modules: Electrothermal simulation with nonuniformities
journal, December 2016

Nardone, M.; Dahal, S.; Waddle, J. M.
Solar Energy, Vol. 139
DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2016.10.006

Investigation of damage caused by partial shading of CuInxGa _(1-x) Se ₂ photovoltaic modules with bypass diodes : Investigation of damage caused by partial shading
journal, April 2016

Lee, Ji Eun; Bae, Soohyun; Oh, Wonwook
Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications, Vol. 24, Issue 8
DOI: 10.1002/pip.2738

Identification and analysis of partial shading breakdown sites in CuInxGa(1-x)Se2 modules
journal, February 2018

Palmiotti, Elizabeth; Johnston, Steve; Gerber, Andreas
Solar Energy, Vol. 161
DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2017.12.019

Phase Diagram and Optical Energy Gaps for CuInyGa1−ySe2 Alloys
journal, April 1991

Tinoco, T.; Rincón, C.; Quintero, M.
Physica Status Solidi (a), Vol. 124, Issue 2
DOI: 10.1002/pssa.2211240206

Shunt screening, size effects and I /V analysis in thin-film photovoltaics
journal, May 2001

Karpov, V. G.; Rich, G.; Subashiev, A. V.
Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 89, Issue 9
DOI: 10.1063/1.1359158

CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics
book, June 2014

Haynes, William M.
CRC Press
DOI: 10.1201/b17118

Figures / Tables found in this record:

Figures/Tables have been extracted from DOE-funded journal article accepted manuscripts.

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Similar Records

Title: Characterization and modeling of reverse-bias breakdown in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 photovoltaic devices

Abstract

Citation Formats

Figures / Tables:

Thermal and Electrical Effects of Partial Shade in Monolithic Thin-Film Photovoltaic Modules journal, November 2015

Characterization of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 photovoltaic modules journal, May 2007

Coupled electron–heat transport in nonuniform thin film semiconductor structures journal, October 2012

Shading-induced failure in thin-film photovoltaic modules: Electrothermal simulation with nonuniformities journal, December 2016

Investigation of damage caused by partial shading of CuInxGa (1-x) Se 2 photovoltaic modules with bypass diodes : Investigation of damage caused by partial shading journal, April 2016

Identification and analysis of partial shading breakdown sites in CuInxGa(1-x)Se2 modules journal, February 2018

Phase Diagram and Optical Energy Gaps for CuInyGa1−ySe2 Alloys journal, April 1991

Shunt screening, size effects and I /V analysis in thin-film photovoltaics journal, May 2001

CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics book, June 2014

Title: Characterization and modeling of reverse-bias breakdown in Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ photovoltaic devices

Thermal and Electrical Effects of Partial Shade in Monolithic Thin-Film Photovoltaic Modules
journal, November 2015

Characterization of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 photovoltaic modules
journal, May 2007

Coupled electron–heat transport in nonuniform thin film semiconductor structures
journal, October 2012

Shading-induced failure in thin-film photovoltaic modules: Electrothermal simulation with nonuniformities
journal, December 2016

Investigation of damage caused by partial shading of CuInxGa _(1-x) Se ₂ photovoltaic modules with bypass diodes : Investigation of damage caused by partial shading
journal, April 2016

Identification and analysis of partial shading breakdown sites in CuInxGa(1-x)Se2 modules
journal, February 2018

Phase Diagram and Optical Energy Gaps for CuInyGa1−ySe2 Alloys
journal, April 1991

Shunt screening, size effects and I /V analysis in thin-film photovoltaics
journal, May 2001

CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics
book, June 2014