Monitoring of large-area solar cell homogeneity by local irradiation

The paper refers about a possibility to check carrier lifetime distribution over the area of power (large-area) solar cells. The carrier lifetime in volume of the cell body can be evaluated using local irradiation of the surface of large-area solar cells with a laser diode (λ = 820 nm) from measured values of open circuit voltage V_oc. The method can give information about recombination centres distribution in large-area solar cells. From V_oc distribution, also position and extent of local defects can also be determined. Solar cell diagnostic methods can be used to investigate the influence of technology on characteristics of solar cells, with the aim of increasing efficiency and reliability of solar cells.