Localization and imaging of local shunts in solar cells using polymer-dispersed liquid crystals

authored by

Jan Schmidt, Ingo Dierking

Abstract

An easy-to-use technique for the localization and imaging of local shunts in solar cells is introduced. The method is based on temperature-sensitive polymer-dispersed cholesteric liquid crystal foils, covering the reverse-biased solar cell. The unique optical properties of the cholesteric liquid crystal, known as selective reflection, render the local shunts of a solar cell visible as a color distribution in the foil, which is directly correlated with the spatial shunt distribution. The novel method is applied to several laboratory and commercial silicon solar cells and its high sensitivity is demonstrated.

External Organisation(s)

Australian National University
Institute for Solar Energy Research (ISFH)
Technische Universität Darmstadt

Type

Article

Journal

Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications

Volume

9

Pages

263-271

No. of pages

9

ISSN

1062-7995

Publication date

07.2001

Publication status

Published

Peer reviewed

Yes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials, Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment, Condensed Matter Physics, Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Sustainable Development Goals

SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy

Electronic version(s)

https://doi.org/10.1002/pip.378 (Access: Unknown)