New Method to Observe and Prevent Solar Cell Degradation

A method has been established in order to observe and prevent solar cell degradation. This method has been established at the University of Luxembourg's Laboratory for Photovoltaics. This new method has implications for the solar cell manufacturing industry since chemical damage to the solar cells can occur quickly.

This study was recently published in Applied Physical Letters.

The solar cells are the power generators and are responsible for the energy in solar panels. The solar cells are coated with thin film that is responsible for absorbing the sun's energy. But this film can be degraded during the production process.

"A thin film solar cell is a stack of several layers. The main one is the layer that absorbs the light and transforms it into electricity. If these absorbers are not processed immediately they lose part of their ability to convert light energy," says researcher David Regesch of the Laboratory for Photovoltaics, Physics Research Unit at the University of Luxembourg.

For this study the researchers measured the light that is released by a solar cell when a laser is thrown on it. Within a few minutes the degradation process happens. What is more interesting is that the researchers noticed that this method is also reversible and prevented by quickly placing another layer on the solar cell. This is the factor that makes the solar cell stable.

This study has emphasizes on the physical reason why the solar cells need to processed at a faster rate.