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Compressive current response mapping of photovoltaic devices using MEMS mirror arrays

Understanding the performance and aging mechanisms in photovoltaic devices requires a spatial assessment of the device properties. The current dominant technique, electroluminescence, has the disadvantage that it assesses radiative recombination only. A complementary method, laser beam-induced curre...

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Main Authors: Simon R.G. Hall, Matt Cashmore, John Blackburn, George Koutsourakis, Ralph Gottschalg
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Published: 2016
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Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/2134/22061
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author Simon R.G. Hall
Matt Cashmore
John Blackburn
George Koutsourakis
Ralph Gottschalg
author_facet Simon R.G. Hall
Matt Cashmore
John Blackburn
George Koutsourakis
Ralph Gottschalg
author_sort Simon R.G. Hall (7208591)
collection Figshare
description Understanding the performance and aging mechanisms in photovoltaic devices requires a spatial assessment of the device properties. The current dominant technique, electroluminescence, has the disadvantage that it assesses radiative recombination only. A complementary method, laser beam-induced current (LBIC), is too slow for high-throughput measurements. This paper presents the description, design, and proof of concept of a new measurement method to significantly accelerate LBIC measurements. The method allows mapping of the current response map of solar cells and modules at drastically reduced acquisition times. This acceleration is achieved by projecting a number of mathematically derived patterns on the sample by using a digital micromirror device (DMD). The spatially resolved signal is then recovered using compressed sensing techniques. The system has fewer moving parts and is demonstrated to require fewer overall measurements. Compared with conventional LBIC imaging using galvanic mirror arrangements or xy scanners, the use of a DMD allows a significantly faster and more repeatable illumination of the device under test. In this proof-of-concept instrument, sampling patterns are drawn from Walsh–Hadamard matrices, which are one of the many operators that can be used to realize this technique. This has the advantage of the signal-to-noise ratio of the measurement being significantly increased and thus allows elimination of the standard lock-in techniques for signal detection, reducing measurement costs, and increasing measurement speed further. This new method has the potential to substantially decrease the time taken for measurement, which demonstrates a dramatic improvement in the utility of LBIC instrumentation.
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spelling rr-article-95649622016-01-01T00:00:00Z Compressive current response mapping of photovoltaic devices using MEMS mirror arrays Simon R.G. Hall (7208591) Matt Cashmore (7209056) John Blackburn (7212692) George Koutsourakis (1251867) Ralph Gottschalg (1247661) Mechanical engineering not elsewhere classified untagged Mechanical Engineering not elsewhere classified Understanding the performance and aging mechanisms in photovoltaic devices requires a spatial assessment of the device properties. The current dominant technique, electroluminescence, has the disadvantage that it assesses radiative recombination only. A complementary method, laser beam-induced current (LBIC), is too slow for high-throughput measurements. This paper presents the description, design, and proof of concept of a new measurement method to significantly accelerate LBIC measurements. The method allows mapping of the current response map of solar cells and modules at drastically reduced acquisition times. This acceleration is achieved by projecting a number of mathematically derived patterns on the sample by using a digital micromirror device (DMD). The spatially resolved signal is then recovered using compressed sensing techniques. The system has fewer moving parts and is demonstrated to require fewer overall measurements. Compared with conventional LBIC imaging using galvanic mirror arrangements or xy scanners, the use of a DMD allows a significantly faster and more repeatable illumination of the device under test. In this proof-of-concept instrument, sampling patterns are drawn from Walsh–Hadamard matrices, which are one of the many operators that can be used to realize this technique. This has the advantage of the signal-to-noise ratio of the measurement being significantly increased and thus allows elimination of the standard lock-in techniques for signal detection, reducing measurement costs, and increasing measurement speed further. This new method has the potential to substantially decrease the time taken for measurement, which demonstrates a dramatic improvement in the utility of LBIC instrumentation. 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z Text Journal contribution 2134/22061 https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Compressive_current_response_mapping_of_photovoltaic_devices_using_MEMS_mirror_arrays/9564962 CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
spellingShingle Mechanical engineering not elsewhere classified
untagged
Mechanical Engineering not elsewhere classified
Simon R.G. Hall
Matt Cashmore
John Blackburn
George Koutsourakis
Ralph Gottschalg
Compressive current response mapping of photovoltaic devices using MEMS mirror arrays
title Compressive current response mapping of photovoltaic devices using MEMS mirror arrays
title_full Compressive current response mapping of photovoltaic devices using MEMS mirror arrays
title_fullStr Compressive current response mapping of photovoltaic devices using MEMS mirror arrays
title_full_unstemmed Compressive current response mapping of photovoltaic devices using MEMS mirror arrays
title_short Compressive current response mapping of photovoltaic devices using MEMS mirror arrays
title_sort compressive current response mapping of photovoltaic devices using mems mirror arrays
topic Mechanical engineering not elsewhere classified
untagged
Mechanical Engineering not elsewhere classified
url https://hdl.handle.net/2134/22061