PV Performance: Cells
Researchers make measurements of current versus voltage, as well as quantum efficiency, to characterize the performance of PV cells. Based on these results, the researchers may redesign aspects of the cell to improve the performance—for example, material compositions may be altered, or thicknesses of layers modified.
In describing the current-voltage (I-V) measurements, we discuss key points on the I-V plot and values determined from the plot, including: short-circuit current, open-circuit voltage, maximum power, fill factor, and conversion efficiency. We also take a look at factors that affect conversion efficiency. Quantum efficiency (QE) is explained, along with the concepts of external and internal QE measurements.