FFT-filtered photoluminesence imaging and solar cells

Recently published in EES Solar, the authors* of the paper 'Extracting contact recombination from FFT-filtered photoluminesence imaging of half-metallised silcon solar cells' , led by this department, propose a method to measure contact recombination in silicon solar cells (being a major efficiency loss) using photoluminesence imaging and Fourier analysis.

The technique analyses period metal contact patterns without requiring special designs, making it practical for industrial use.

By filtering noise, enhancing signals and simulating the device, the authors were able to quantify recombination losses.  The method was tested on cells with different metallisation pasts, successfully identifying performance differences.

This approach helps improve cell performance and supports renewable PV energy manufacturing.

*Oxford Materials, Macquarie University, Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Germany), University of Warwick, Changzhou Fusion New Material Co Ltd (China) and AF Simulations GmbH (Germany).