Impact of the Current on Reverse Bias Degradation of Perovskite Solar Cells

Nonequal current generation in the cells of a photovoltaic module, e.g., due to partial shading, leads to operation in reverse bias. This quickly causes a significant efficiency loss in perovskite solar cells. We report a more quantitative investigation of the reverse bias degradation. Various small reverse biases (negative voltages) were...

Fundamental Mechanisms Behind the Reverse Characteristic of Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ Solar Cells

Partial shading of PV modules can lead to degradation of the shaded cells. The degradation originates from a reverse bias voltage over the shaded cells. In order to mitigate reverse bias damage in Cu(In, Ga)Se2 (CIGS) modules, a good understanding of the fundamental mechanisms governing the reverse characteristic is required. In this study, a...

Propagation mechanism of reverse bias induced defects in Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ solar cells

Partial shading of monolithically interconnected Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ (CIGSe) modules can lead to the formation of reverse bias induced defects. These localized defects permanently reduce the output of the PV module. The formation and propagation mechanisms of these defects is studied. Understanding these mechanisms can help to prevent or...

How the absorber thickness influences the formation of reverse bias induced defects in CIGS solar cells

When a PV module is partially shaded, the shaded solar cells operate in a reverse bias condition. For Cu(In,Ga)Se2 cells this condition can cause defects that irreversibly reduce the output of these cells and the full module. In order to design robust shade-tolerant CIGS modules details need to be known of the conditions at which these...

Reliability implications of partial shading on CIGS photovoltaic devices: A literature review

Partial shading of Cu(In,Ga)(Se,S)2 (CIGS) photovoltaic (PV) modules is getting more attention, as is witnessed by the increase in publications on this topic in recent years. This review will give an overview of shading tests executed on CIGS modules and focuses on the more fundamental aspects that are often studied on cells. Generally, CIGS...

Material Property Changes in Defects Caused by Reverse Bias Exposure of CIGS Solar Cells

Partial shading of Cu(In,Ga)Se₂ modules can lead to the formation of reverse bias induced wormlike defects. These wormlike defects act as local shunts and permanently decrease module output. A good understanding of the formation and propagation mechanisms of these defects is needed in order to mitigate the negative effects, or to...

Evolution and role of vacancy clusters at grain boundaries of ZnO:Al during accelerated degradation of Cu(In, Ga)Se2 solar cells revealed by positron annihilation

Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) and Doppler broadening positron annihilation spectroscopy (DB-PAS) depth profiling demonstrate pronounced growth of vacancy clusters at the grain boundaries of as-deposited Al-doped ZnO films deposited as transparent conductive oxide (TCO) on Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) solar cells upon accelerated...

Evolution and role of vacancy clusters at grain boundaries of ZnO:Al during accelerated degradation of Cu(In, Ga)Se-2 solar cells revealed by positron annihilation

Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS) and Doppler broadening positron annihilation spectroscopy DB-PAS) depth profiling demonstrate pronounced growth of vacancy clusters at the grain boundaries of as-deposited Al-doped ZnO films deposited as transparent conductive oxide (TCO) on Cu(In, Ga)Se2 (CIGS) solar cells upon accelerated...