Reverse-bias behaviour of thin-film solar cells: effects of measurement-induced heating

When a solar cell is subjected to negative voltage bias, it locally heats up due the deposited electrical power. Therefore, every investigation of characteristics in regime faces challenge that measurement itself changes state way difficult quantify: On one hand, reverse breakdown known be strongly temperature dependent. other voltages lead metastable device which are also very sensitive temperature. In current study, we introduce new approach suppress this measurement-induced heating by inserting time delays between individual pulses when measuring. As sample system use thin-film cells based on Cu(In,Ga)Se 2 (CIGS) absorber layers. First verify with largely reduced. This allows us then analyse impact two cells: (i) behaviour and (ii) reverse-bias-induced changes. The results show minimising leads significant increase effectively slows down dynamics. Regarding breakdown, fundamental tunneling mechanisms believed drive remain qualitatively unchanged, but affects quantitative values extracted for associated energy barriers. reverse-bias metastability, experimental data reveal there responsible react differently heating: Apart from charge redistribution at front interface amphoteric ( V Se – Cu ) divacancy complex, modification transport barrier observed might caused ion migration towards back interface. findings study demonstrate local measurements can have notable needs kept mind developing models underlying physical processes.