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Lock-in and Heterodyne Carrierographic Imaging Characterization of Industrial Multicrystalline Silicon Solar Cells

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Abstract

A novel non-destructive, non-contact laser-induced near-infrared imaging technique using an InGaAs camera and based on dynamic carrierography (a spectrally gated modulated photoluminescence modality) was used in direct lock-in (LICG) and heterodyne (HDCG) modes to characterize industrial multicrystalline silicon solar cells. The image amplitude depends on the free-photocarrier diffusion-wave density, the spatial resolution is a function of modulation frequency, and the contrast is due to the spatial distribution of important parameters influencing the efficiency of the solar cell, such as base recombination lifetime. High-spatial-resolution and high-frequency carrierographic images have been obtained using a HDCG method. The relationship between the LICG amplitude and the solar cell terminal photovoltage under an external load was investigated. The influence of surface recombination velocities and damage of the solar cell p–n junction was studied. A correlation between the solar cell efficiency and the surface-integrated LICG amplitude from the entire solar cell is presented.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Advanced Diffusion-Wave Technologies, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Toronto, 5 King’s College Rd., Toronto, ON, M5S 3G8, Canada

    A. Melnikov, P. Chen, Y. Zhang & A. Mandelis

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  1. A. Melnikov
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  2. P. Chen
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  3. Y. Zhang
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  4. A. Mandelis
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Correspondence to A. Mandelis.

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Melnikov, A., Chen, P., Zhang, Y. et al. Lock-in and Heterodyne Carrierographic Imaging Characterization of Industrial Multicrystalline Silicon Solar Cells. Int J Thermophys 33, 2095–2102 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10765-012-1292-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10765-012-1292-z

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