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Accurate measurement of the AM1.

5G solar cell efficiency


Not really by

Joey Luther

because I stole all the content from the internet

Certified solar cell efficiencies

This shows the maximum certified efficiency (under simulated AM1.5G conditions) for each type of device structure. This talk will explain how that is measured.

Measuring the efficiency

Simple measurement, right? = VOC JSC FF


But measuring the device should be as easy as shining light on a device and measuring the max power point

Basic solar radiation

The energy flow within the sun results in a surface temperature of around 5800 K, so the spectrum of the radiation from the sun is similar to that of a 5800 K blackbody with fine structure due to absorption in the cool peripheral solar gas (Fraunhofer lines).

By the time the radiation reaches our power infrastructure, atmospheric inference reduces the spectum to the solid line.

Solar radiation reaching the earth's surface varies significantly with location, atmospheric conditions including cloud cover, aerosol content, and ozone layer condition, and time of day, earth/sun distance, solar rotation and activity. Since the solar spectra depend on so many variables, standard spectra have been developed to provide a basis for theoretical evaluation of the effects of solar radiation and as a basis for simulator design.

http://www.newport.com/Introduction-to-Solar-Radiation/411919/1033/catalog.aspx

AM1.5G spectrum

Download the .xls file here:


http://rredc.nrel.gov/solar/spectra/am1.5/

Many different light bulb options

Light bulbs dont look like the AM1.5G spectrum. Here are some examples of common light bulb spectra.

http://www.newport.com/file_store/Supporting_Documents/Tech_Ref_Solar_Simulation2.pdf

Choosing Light bulb spectra

No light bulb perfectly mimics the sun, look at the spectrum for various bulb types. Consider which part of the spectrum is most important for the type of cell you plan to measure.

Various other factors to consider

Additional tradeoffs in available light bulbs

Solar simulators

Even custom designed solar simulators poorly mimic the true spectrum.

What you need to measure the efficiency of a solar cell


Solar cell (need to measure device area, quantum
efficiency spectrum)

Light bulb (need to know spectrum) IV source measurement unit A calibrated reference cell or pyrometer
(need EQE spectrum and it must must encompass full range of test device)

What you need to accurately measure the device. What you need to know about them is in parentheses. The talk is based on this paper.

NRELs procedure
1st, Acquire the QE spectrum of the device Then choose an appropriate reference cell based on the spectrum of your cell. Example reference cells
Obvious choice for a Si cell is a Si ref cell KG5 filtered Si cell serves as a good ref cell for P3HT:PCBM cells because they have similar spectal response.
Pick an appropriate reference cell. The reference cell must be active over the same area as your solar cell. If your device has a narrower spectrum, you can use a filter to block the light that isnt of interest. For example, if you are measuring a P3HT:PCBM cell active between 350 and 700 nm, and a Si diode as your reference detector, a spectral spike or dip at 900 nm could cause your reference cell current to be incorrect.

IV scan
2nd. Tune the lamp current such that reference cell reads the 1-sun AM1.5G current, as provided by the calibration

NREL shines the lamp and reads the VOC. Then scans from -0.1V to 10% higher than the VOC The QE spectrum is acquired and compared to the

Spectral Mismatch
3rd, spectral mismatch is calculated (not as difficult as it looks)
EREF = solar spectrum ES = lamp spectrum SR = ref cell spectral response ST = test cell spectral response

Term 1 = current of ref cell in AM1.5G Term 2 = current of device under lamp Term 3 = current of device under AM1.5G Term 4 = current of ref cell under lamp

AM1.5G =

VOC(V) ISC(mA) FF(%) A(cm2) M


Again, see the Yang Paper referenced earlier

Device Area
Carefully measure the device area using a calibrated microscope
Overlap of ITO and Metal contact

Active area

Certified efficiency Valid if A 1 cm2


With many of these device having a small area, errors in device area are easily the cause for overly stated efficiencies. Thermal evaporation of a top contact of Calcium followed by aluminum, from 2 different sources can cause a shadowing. Its important to accurately measure the device area. NREL wont give a certified value for devices with area < 1 cm^2. You can get a certified efficiency value, but it cannot be considered a record efficiency and wont make the chart shown at the beginning of this talk.

Typical report given to someone who submitted a device to NREL for accurate efficiency value.

Other considerations
Light spectrum is generally dependent on bulb age, optical settings, and current thru the bulb. Devices sometimes exhibit intensity dependent QE Response time of current collection

Conclusions
To accurately measure a device, its important to:
Have a calibrated reference detector with response over the same range as the test cell. Know the lamp spectrum. Calculate the spectral mismatch and divide by that value accurately measure the device area The external quantum efficiency can be used as a check to see if the Jsc value is correct by integrating the QE vs the lamp spectrum.

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