Testing and Evaluation: Devices and Cells

Numerous DOE-funded testing and evaluation capabilities are available for public use on a no-fee basis, including capabilities at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Sandia National Laboratories (Sandia), Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), and the Southeast and Southwest Regional Experiment Stations (SERES and SWRES). The following table lists capabilities related to devices and cells and provides links for obtaining more information. To inquire about capabilities at DOE-funded facilities, see the contacts page.

Descriptor	Description of Capability (including Web links)	Specific tests/measurements/characterizations
NREL Cell Efficiency Measurements	Measure performance of PV cells and modules with respect to standard reporting conditions. http://www.nrel.gov/pv/measurements/device_performance.html	Light and dark current-voltage (I-V), spectral responsivity versus voltage and light. All PV cell technologies with minimum uncertainty. Spectrally adjustable simulator, temperature, pre-measurement, and bias-rate issues addressed.
NREL Primary Reference Cell Calibration Facility	Rigorous calibration of reference cells used by industry and labs with traceability to recognized standards. http://www.nrel.gov/pv/measurements/device_performance.html	Four cells at a time under direct-beam light with cavity radiometer and spectral radiometer. Follows ASTM E1125. ISO 17025 accredited.
NREL Multiple Cell Environmental Stress Testing	I-V characterization of multiple cells with controlled atmosphere (inert, or air), light, and temperature levels.	CdTe/CIGS device fabrication capabilities. Study of devices, contacts, and interconnects under controlled levels of environmental stress (light, bias, humidity, temperature).
NREL Concentrator Cell Efficiency Measurements	Continuous and pulsed light sources for concentrator cell efficiency with respect to reference condition linearity not assumed. Partial spectral adjustment, if required. www.nrel.gov/pv/measurements/device_performance.html	Determining efficiency with respect to reference conditions, performance vs. concentration and temperature, ohmic contacts, tunnel diode analysis. Continuous xenon or tungsten light, 0.01 to 100 suns, and dark I-V. Light I-V, 1 to 2,000 suns (mA to 50 A).
Sandia PV Device Measurement Lab	Standardized cell performance and optical measurements, failure diagnostics, calibration of reference cells and sensors. www.sandia.gov/pv	Performance using ASTM procedures for one-sun and concentration to 1,000X. Temperature coefficients, dark IV analysis forward and reverse bias. Absolute spectral response, internal quantum efficiency (300 to 2,400 nm). 2-D LBIC scans (high resolution at 4 laser wavelengths or low resolution at any wavelength). Spectral reflectance/transmittance.