ACTIVATION-ENERGY OF LOCAL CURRENTS IN SOLAR-CELLS MEASURED BY THERMAL METHODS

A new technique based on dynamic precision contact thermal measurement s of the local current density of solar cells in the dark was develope d to determine and map the activation energy of local currents, Becaus e the activation energy or, move generally, the temperature dependence of the current density at constant bias in the dark is determined by the conduction mechanism, measurements of the activation energy may he lp to distinguish between various possible conduction mechanisms domin ating in different regions of the cell. An application of this techniq ue to multicrystalline silicon solar cells is presented. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.