• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.69-72
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• 2014

We investigated current-voltage (I-V) and capacitance (C)-V characteristics of solution-processed thin film solar cells, consisting of $Cu(In,Ga)S_2$ and $CuInS_2$ stacked absorber layers. The ideality factors, extracted from the temperature-dependent I-V curves, showed that the tunneling-mediated interface recombination was dominant in the cells. Rapid increase of both series- and shunt-resistance at low temperatures would limit the performance of the cells, requiring further optimization. The C-V data revealed that the carrier concentration of the $CuInS_2$ layer was about 10 times larger than that of the $Cu(In,Ga)S_2$ layer. All these results could help us to find strategies to improve the efficiency of the solution-processed thin film solar cells.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.63-68
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• 2014

In recent years, discoloration defects, called as snail trail, have been observed at many crystalline photovoltaic modules after a period of time ranging from several months to several years after initial installation. It has been reported that this phenomenon doesn't impact on the performance of photovoltaic modules, but it can be detected through simple visual inspection. The origin and detailed mechanism for the formation have not been identified. In this study, non-destructive analysis by Raman spectroscopy has been carried out to investigate the origin of this phenomenon. In parallel, destructive analysis by scanning electron microscopt and transmission electron microscopy was also performed in order to confirm the results from non-destructive method. Through the extensive analysis, it was found that the main cause for discoloration is the formations of $Ag_2CO_3$ and $AgC_2H_3O_2$. Detailed mechanism for the formation of these particles was indentified through systematic studies.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.12-16
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• 2018

The interest in perovskite solar cells has been skyrocketed owing to their rapid progress in efficiency in recent years. Here, we report the effect of non-stoichiometry in the methylammonium lead trihalide ($MAPbI_3$) precursors used in a solution process with different MAI : $PbI_2$ ratios of 1 : 0.96, 1 : 1.10, 1 : 1.15, and 1:1.20. With an increase in the $PbI_2$ content, the $PbI_2$ secondary phase was found to form at grain boundary region of perovskite thin films, as evidenced by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In terms of device performance, open-circuit voltage in particular is significantly improved with increasing the molar ratio of $PbI_2$, which is possibly ascribed to the reduction in recombination sites at grain boundary of perovskite and hence the prolonged life time of light-generated carriers according to the reported. As a result, the $PbI_2-excess$ devices exhibited a higher power conversion efficiency compared to the MAI-excess ones.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.17-20
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• 2018

The dependency of the photovoltaic performance of p-/n-type silicon solar-cells on the metallic contaminant type (Fe, Cu, and Ni) and concentration was investigated. The minority-carrier recombination lifetime was degraded with increasing metallic contaminant concentration, however, the degradation sensitivity of recombination lifetime was lower at n-type than p-type silicon wafer, which means n-type silicon wafer have an immunity to the effect of metallic contamination. This is because heavy metal ions with positive charge have a much larger capture cross section of electron than hole, so that reaction with electrons occurs much more easily. The power conversion efficiency of n-type solar-cells was degraded by 9.73% when metallic impurities were introduced in the silicon bulk, which is lower degradation compared to p-type solar-cells (15.61% of efficiency degradation). Therefore, n-type silicon solar-cells have a potential to achieve high efficiency of the solar-cell in the future with a merit of immunity against metal contamination.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.5 no.4
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• pp.135-139
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• 2017

We fabricated two different transparent conducting oxide thin films of ZnO doped with Ga ($Ga_2O_3$ 0.9 wt%) as well as Al ($Al_2O_3$ 2.1 wt%) (GAZO) and ZnO doped only with Al ($Al_2O_3$ 3 wt%) (AZO). It was investigated how it affects the moisture resistance of the transparent electrode. In addition, $Cu(In,Ga)Se_2$ thin film solar cells with two transparent oxides as front electrodes were fabricated, and the correlation between humidity resistance of transparent electrodes and device performance of solar cells was examined. When both transparent electrodes were exposed to high temperature distilled water, they showed a rapid increase in sheet resistance and a decrease in the fill factor of the solar cell. However, AZO showed a drastic decrease in efficiency at the beginning of exposure, while GAZO showed that the deterioration of efficiency occurred over a long period of time and that the long term moisture resistance of GAZO was better.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.27-31
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• 2015

It is known that sulfide at the $Cu(In,Ga)Se_2$ ($CIGSe_2$) surface plays a positive role in $CIGSe_2$ solar cells. We investigated the substitution of S with Se on the $CIGSe_2$ surface in S atmosphere. We observed that the sulfur content in the $CIGSe_2$ films changed according to sulfurization temperature and Cu/(In+Ga) ratio. The sulfur content in the $CIGSe_2$ films increased with increasing the annealing temperature and Cu/(In+Ga) ratio. Also Cu migration toward the surface increased at higher temperature. Since high Cu concentration at the $CIGSe_2$ surface is detrimental role, it is necessary to reduce the S annealing temperature as low as $200^{\circ}C$. The cell performance was improved at $200^{\circ}C$ sulfurization.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.81-85
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• 2018

The photovoltaic modules installed in the actual field are affected by various external environments and the electrical performance output value is generally lowered compared to initial output value. The most of photovoltaic modules consists of low iron glass, encapsulant (EVA), back sheet, frame and junction box assembly based on the solar cells. In this paper, the characteristics of encapsulant which is an important constituent material of photovoltaic module were verified by maximum power determination, electro luminescence images, yellowness index measurement, and gel content measurement after ultraviolet (UV) irradiation exposure. The most commonly installed 72 cells crystalline photovoltaic modules were tested after various UV exposure of 0, 15, 30, and $60kWh/m^2$ and compared with the reference module. After UV exposure of $15kWh/m^2$, which is the current international test condition, a small amount of change was observed in yellowness index and electroluminescence, while a gell content rapidly increased. At a cumulative dose of $60kWh/m^2$, which will be a new international test condition in the near future, however, the yellowness index increased sharply and showed the greatest output power drop.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.61-64
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• 2019

In this study, we investigate organic-inorganic hybrid solar cells with a very simple three-layer structure (Al/n-Si/PEDOT:PSS). The performance of hybrid solar cells is optimized by controlling the sheet resistance and optical transmittance of the PEDOT:PSS layers. As the thickness of the PEDOT:PSS layer decreases, the optical absorption of the n-Si increases, which greatly improves the short-circuit current density ($J_{SC}$) of devices, but the increase in sheet resistance leads to a decrease in the open-circuit voltage ($V_{OC}$) and the fill factor (FF). The solar cell with the 180-nm thick PEDOT:PSS layer shows a highest efficiency of 8.45% ($V_{OC}$: 0.435 V, $J_{SC}$: $33.7mA/cm^2$, FF: 57.5%). Considering these results, it is expected that the optimizing process for the sheet resistance and transmittance of the PEDOT:PSS layer is essential for producing high-efficiency organic-inorganic hybrid solar cells and will serve as an important basis for achieving low-cost, high-efficiency solar cells.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.33-37
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• 2019

In this paper, we compared the performance of $Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se)_2$ (CIGSSe) thin film solar cell with CdS buffer layer deposited by irradiating 365 nm UV light with 8 W power in Chemcial Bath Deposition (CBD) process. The effects of UV light irradiation on the thin film deposition mechanism during CBD-CdS thin film deposition were investigated through chemical and electro-optical studies. If the UV light is irradiated during the solution process, the hydrolysis of Thiourea is promoted even during the same time, thereby inhibiting the formation of the intermediate products developed in the reaction pathway and decreasing the pH of the solution. As a result, it is suggested that the efficiency of the CdS/CIGSSe solar cell is increased because the ratio of the S element in the CdS thin film increases and the proportion of the O element decreases. This is a very simple and effective approach to control the S/O ratio of the CdS thin film by the CBD process without artificially controlling the process temperature, solution pH or concentration.

• Current Photovoltaic Research
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.51-54
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• 2019

The high density module (HDM) has advantages for its larger active area and smaller current density. This new way of making a photovoltaic (PV) module method has benefit for increasing module power with the same installed area. Because HDM consisted with serially connected PV strings, loss of strings during the fabrication process can increase the overall production cost.1-2 This study investigates the rework conditions of the shingled strings with electrically conductive adhesives (ECA). By heating the electrically connected area of a fabricated string, cured area become soft and a string can be detached for the rework process. After rework process, a refabricated string showed 5~10% increased output power compared to before rework process and reached to the 90~95% output power compare to the undamaged strings.