Advanced Characterization Methods for PV

Freiburg, Fraunhofer ISE - Thursday, January 14th 2016

Session II: Solar Cells & Modules

2.4 K. Bittkau, FZ Juelich (D), “Electro-optical Characterization of Thin-film Solar Cells and Modules: From nanophotonic cell characterization to macroscopic module characterization”

Abstract: Electro-optical characterization is of significant importance along the process chain of thin-film solar cell and module fabrication on nanoscopic, as well as on a macroscopic scale. On the nano-scale, scanning near-field optical microscopy is a versatile tool to characterize the optical behavior of nano-photonic surface elements for light management. This can be done either with one probe and global illumination, two probes to investigate the light propagation within the solar cell on a microscopic range, as well as combined with a measurement of local photocurrent (nano LBIC). On the macroscopic range, such thin-film cells are interconnected to modules. A combination of electroluminescence (EL) and dark lock-in infrared thermography (DLIT) assisted by an integrated circle device simulation allows to determine local cell characteristics and advanced characterization of the modules.