EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON THE VARIATION OF DEGRADED SILICON SOLAR CELLS PARAMETER

In the lifetime and under ordinary working conditions, solar cells prone to the effects of aging and their electrical parameters are degrading continually. In this paper, to simulate and accelerate the effects of aging, solar cells were exposed to the different doses of gamma radiation, since gamma radiation and aging produces similar effects in semiconducting devices. The current-voltage characteristics and spectral photo current of mono-crystalline solar cells were studied before and after the gamma irradiation. Experimental results showed that the gamma radiation causes a significant Reduction in the short circuit current (Isc) and efficiency (η) while the open circuit voltage (Voc) is slightly reduced. The spectral photo current shows that, by increasing irradiation dose, reducing the current occurred at lower wavelengths and defects is mainly inflicted to region close to the surface of solar cells. Obtained results could lead to novel designs of silicon solar cells with purpose of increasing their possible applications