The problems of solar cells are described in general in theoretic part of the master’s thesis. In particular there is described structure of solar cells, procedure of production of solar cells, kinds of defects that can occur in solar cells and diagnostic methods of detection of this defects. The solar simulator, electroluminescence method, detection of defects during microplasma shining, LBIV and LBIC method belongs to category of diagnostic methods. The main focusing is on diagnostic method of LBIC (Light Beam Inducted Current). The workplace which exploits this method is used in laboratory in Department of Electrotechnology on University of Technology Brno. This method is very exact and it reveals most of defects in solar cell but the problem is the slow speed of testing. In practical part of the master’s thesis the main solved problem is the proposition and realization of modified workplace of LBIC that would work on more modern level, it means using performer PC for service program and Agilent 34410A the modern measuring device. The speed up of the testing time is the goal of modernization in existing accuracy of finding. The modify workplace is realized and compared with the existing workplace subsequently.

To mitigate the risk for devastating climate changes, there is an urgent need to change the energy production from the current fossil based to renewable sources. Solar cells will contribute to an increasing share of the future energy systems. Today silicon solar cells dominate the market but printed organic solar cells are promising alternatives in terms of cost, flexibility, possibilities for building integrations and energy payback times. Printing enables roll-to-roll processing that is quick and renders huge volumes. Thus, also characterization and quality control must be fast. Recent tests have been performed showing that a LED array with amplitude modulated LEDs can be used to provide photocurrent images of modules with series connected sub cells in-line during manufacturing. The purpose of this thesis work is to further evaluate and develop this LED array characterization technique focusing on contact methods and signal interpretation. Two modes were examined; a contact mode and a capacitive contact-less mode. Both modes gave comparable results and indicated strong variations in performance of sub cells in the measured modules. Other methods to address individual cells also showed similar behavior. However, by manually adding extra contact points, current-voltage curves could be measured on the individual sub cells in the modules. Extraction of photocurrents were similar, but the parallel resistances varied strongly between the cells in the module. Increasing the frequency of the LEDs resulted in less variations. Calculations indicated that this frequency dependence could be used to separate the photocurrent generation and parallel resistance in the sub cells.

This thesis is focused on one of the diagnostic methods of fotovoltaic cells the LBIC (Light Beam Induced Current) method and the experimental measurement set-up for this method, which is operated by the Department of Electrical and Electronic Technology in Brno. The principle of photovoltaic cells function, the possibly used material and the problems usually encountred during production are described in this work,. There is also a review of methods that can be used to detect defects in photovoltaic cells. The main part is devoted to the proposal of a new experimental set-up for the measuring LBIC method and software development for this set-up. There is a proposal of a new method of measurement, which is also implemented using the development environment Borland C + +. Newly developed software for this method allows simpler operation and more efficient measurements.

The master‘s thesis is focused on the modification of measurement workplace for solar cells. In the first part of the thesis are introduced general problems of the solar energy and possible use in the international power supply, the details about the photovoltaic effect, processing of solar cells and their subsequent parameters. More further in the text the autor is concerned with causes of solar cells defects formation and representation of the most important defects. For defects detection are known the detection methods of solar cells, which are generally described in the text. The second part of the thesis includes detailed description of the LBIC method and workplace both the VUT Brno, and in Solartec, Ltd. The most important point of this part is project and description of innovated workplace from hardware and software realization. There is out of print the function and the description of the user interface and subsequently there are mentioned results gained from original and innovated workplace. In the conclusion are summarized whole activities of the master’s thesis, described and evaluated achieved results and outlined the direction, where would the other development of the LBIC workplace on VUT Brno be proceeding.

Les travaux de cette thèse sont en rapport avec la caractérisation de cellules solaires organiques et se déclinent suivant 3 axes :- Dans le cadre du projet IMPCELPHOTOR, nous avons développé un banc de caractérisation LBIC/LBIV permettant de cartographier des dispositifs OPV afin de visualiser et d’identifier les défauts de fonctionnement.- Dans le cadre du projet Européen SPrinTronics, nous avons travaillé sur l’amélioration des électrodes. Pour l’électrode collectrice d’électrons, nous avons sélectionné, testé et validé des encres métalliques à base de nanoparticules d’argent compatibles avec l’impression jet d’encre et permettant de réaliser des dispositifs OPV fonctionnels. Pour l’électrode collectrice de trous, nous avons testé des encres à base de nanofils d’argent et de nanotubes de carbone afin de remplacer l’ITO. Des résultats satisfaisants ont été obtenus avec une encre à base de nanofils d’argent. Cette dernière permet de réaliser des cellules semi-transparentes fonctionnelles sur verre et sur plastique. - Un travail sur l’aspect couleur d’un dispositif OPV a été mené au sein du projet PHASME. Nous avons mis en œuvre différentes techniques afin de modifier la couleur d’un dispositif OPV sans détruire ses performances photovoltaïques, le but étant de réaliser des modules polychromes. Nous avons développé simultanément un logiciel de colorimétrie permettant de contrôler et de prévoir le rendu de couleur dû à l’ajout de filtre coloré sur le dispositif OPV. / The work of this thesis is related to the characterization of organic solar cells and is structured in three independant parts :- Within the IMPCELPHOTOR project, we developed an experimental bench based on LBIC/ LBIV mapping, in order to visualize and identify defects within OPV device and modules.- Within the European SPrinTronics project, we worked on the improvement of OPV electrodes. For the top electrode, we selected, tested, and validated metallic inks based on silver nanoparticles compatible with inkjet printing. For the bottom electrode, we tested silver nanowires and carbon nanotubes inks to replace ITO. Satisfactory results have been obtained with an ink based on silver nanowires, which allowed us to obtain functional semi-transparent cells on glass and plastic.- Within the PHASME project, we worked on the visual aspect of a coloured OPV device. We implemented various strategies to change the color of an OPV device without altering its photovoltaic performance, the aim being to achieve full color modules. Simultaneously, we developed a colorimetric software to control and predict the color rendering on the final device (OPV plus filter).

In this thesis, the strength of the LBIC system is enhanced in different aspects that includes its feasibility as a non-destructive characterization tool, the signal analysis and development of analytical solution to have better understanding on the defects and inhomogeneities in the quantum dot based hetero-structures for device applications, finally understanding its limits due to the size of the laser beam and interpretation of artefacts in the signal appearance due to the presence of co-devices. Chapter#1 provides the introduction and literature survey of the LBIC system. It covers the importance and area of application of the LBIC. Chapter#2 various tools and instrumentation are discussed briefly for the systems that are developed in the lab as well as standard tools utilised for the material characterization. A LBIC instrumentation a novel colloidal quantum dots (CQD) thin film deposition system is discussed. In the last part along with the standard characterization systems a software tool (semiconductor device simulator) is discussed, which is used to visualize and understand the LBIC profile that is obtained experimentally. Chapter#3 provides the information of colloidal synthesis of PbS and HgxCd1-xTe quantum dots. Device fabrication process is explained step by step for the following devices. p-n junction silicon diodes, PbS-CQD/Si hetero-structures, ITO/PbS-CQD/Al crossbar structures and HgCdTe-CQD/Si hetero-structures. Chapter#4 deals with the major constraints imposed on the LBIC due to the need of Ohmic contacts. To overcome this major limitation, in this work, the origin of the signal is studied with the remote contact geometry for silicon p-n junction devices. It was observed that the signals can be collected with the capacitively coupled remote contacts, where LBIC was ultimately demonstrated as contactless measurement tool without any compromise on the measurements and thus obtained physical parameters. The effect of finite laser beam size is also described, which was found to have effect on the actual dimensions measured with the LBIC images. LBIC utility is further enhanced with the Si/CQD based hetero-structure devices, which are the potential candidates in the evolving device technology to be utilized in various modular systems such as PDs and LED applications. Chapter#5 discusses the origin and possible mechanisms for lateral photo-voltage which is closely monitored in the PbS-CQD/Si hetero-junction device systems. Interestingly, it is observed that there are two different line profiles for n and p type Si substrates. Different mechanisms that give rise to this kind of profiles were found to be distinct and are related to the band alignment of the CQD/Si hetero-structure. It lead to the revelation of an interesting phenomenon and believed to be universally observed irrespective of the materials involved in the formation of hetero-junction. Simulations and experimental results are quite consistent and in agreement with each other, which confirm the underlying physical mechanism that connects the LBIC anomalies with the band alignment. Chapter#6 deals with the spatial variations in the transverse photocurrent in the PbS-CQD film which is studied as a function of applied bias. Analytical equation is setup for the photocurrent in the CQD film under applied bias with the help of available transport mechanism and equations from the literature. The spatial non-uniformity that exists in the photocurrent proved to be the result of spatial inhomoginities in the physical parameters. By correlating the spatial data to the analytical equation, it is shown that the inhomoginities can be predicted. This approach is important for the devices, where monolithic detectors are fabricated by depositing CQD film on Read-Out-Integrated-Circuit (ROIC), where the manifestation of non-uniformity can be understood and probably fixed. Chapter#7 HgCdTe CQD based devices are studied for the purpose of photo-detector applications in MWIR (3  5 μm) region. HgxCd1-xTe Colloidal quantum dots are technologically important due to their wide absorption range that covers different regions of the atmospheric window. HgxCd1-xTe are successfully synthesised, which covers the absorption edge up to ~6.25 m in the IR region. Absorption and photo-response studies are carried out on HgxCd1-xTe/Si hetero-junctions under incident IR radiation. It is observed that the band gap of the quantum dots can be tuned easily by controlling the growth time as a parameter, thus moulded HgxCd1-xTe CQD/Si hetero-structures were found to have good photo-response. Chapter#8 the summary and the future direction and scope of the work is discussed. This includes the interesting observations during this thesis work which are not reported here in details.

The aim of this diploma thesis is an innovation of photoluminescence measure research workplace for measurement of cells structure defects by method of transmissive illumination while employing the current methods of measurement of defect in the solar cells structure. The first part deals with explanation of historical development of solar energy, of how we can reach production of electric power with contribution of solar radiation and defines usability of solar cells in practice. The thesis further analyses a practical application of measurement via laboratory diagnostic methods used by Department of Electrotechnology Brno University of Technology. The second part is focused on mechanical design of experimental photoluminescence measure workspace used for quick diagnostic defects employing the rear arousing source for detection of defects with assistance of transmissive system of illumination. Finally, with co-operation of SOLARTEC s.r.o. three types of solar cells are measured by this new method and compared with results of measurement via diagnostic methods of LBIV (Light Beam Induced Current), LBIC (Light Beam Induced Voltage), Electroluminescence, Photoluminescence, and detection defects by radiation of Microplasma.

My diploma thesis focuses in its theoretical part on the analysis of photovoltaic cells, panels, their properties and defects . Further there are described materials from which the cells and panels are produced today but also there are mentioned materials which could affect the near future. There are also state the methods of measurement of photovoltaic cells . The practical part analyzes selected photovoltaic panels, determines the level of degradation by measurement and calculation with using the intensity of solar radiation. All results are entred into graphs and tables.

No description available.

LBIC is a technique for scanning the local quantum efficiency of solar cells. This kind of measurements needs a highly specialized, and time critical controlling software. In 1996 the client, professor Markus Rinio, constructed an LBIC system, and wrote the controlling software as a Turbo-Pascal 7.0 application, running under the MS-DOS 6.22 operating system. By now (2018) both the software and several hardware components are in dire need to be modernized. This thesis thoroughly describes several important aspects of this work, and the considerations needed for a successful result. This includes both very foundational choices about the software architecture, the choice of suitable operating system, the threading model, and the adaptation to new hardware with vastly different behavior. The project also included a new hardware module for position reports and instrument triggering, as well as several adaptations to transform the DOS-based LBIC software into a pleasant modern GUI application.