UV-induced Degradation Study of Multicrystalline Silicon Solar Cells Made from Different Silicon Materials

The effect of ultraviolet-induced degradation (UV-ID) on solar cells made from two different solar grade materials has been compared. By using identical wafer and cell production units, effects originating in the two materials; solar grade produced by the Elkem Solar method (ESS™) was compared to standard polysilicon solar cells.Silicon wafers were selected precisely from similar positions from respective silicon bricks to process identical standard solar cells. The quantum efficiency maps at particular laser wavelengths and IV parameters of all solar cells were measured before and after UV-ID to visualize defects sites in the solar cells and to observe the extent of degradation. The experimental results indicate a general tendency that the cells made from the ESS™ material perform slightly better than standard polysilicon material.