Highly sensitive non-contact shunt detection of organic photovoltaic modules

• Published in: Solar energy materials and solar cells Vol. 101; pp. 176 - 179
• Main Authors: Bachmann, Jonas, Buerhop-Lutz, Claudia, Steim, Roland, Schilinsky, Pavel, Hauch, Jens A., Zeira, Eitan, Christoh J., Brabec
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01.06.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Direct energy conversion and energy accumulation; Electrical engineering. Electrical power engineering; Electrical power engineering; Energy; Equipments, installations and applications; Exact sciences and technology; Lock-in thermography; Natural energy; Organic solar cell; Photoelectric conversion; Photovoltaic conversion; Power networks and lines; Shunt; Solar cells. Photoelectrochemical cells; Solar energy; Users connections and in door installation; Shunt; Organic solar cell; Lock-in thermography; Performance evaluation; Photovoltaic system; Electric contact; Organic solar cells; Luminous intensity; Indoor installation; Photovoltaic array; Dark current; Thermal imaging; Comparative study; Thermography
• ISSN: 0927-0248; 1879-3398
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2012.01.022

Organic photovoltaics (OPV) have been shown to have excellent indoor efficiency at light intensities as low as one 10W/m2. To fully explore their low light efficiency potential, the density as well as severeness of shunts must be kept as low as possible. In this communication we discuss a novel thermography method allowing to image the shunt distribution in organic solar modules with no electrical contact to the module. This thermography method is based on light excitation (ILIT—illuminated lock in thermography) instead of dark current excitation (DLIT—dark lock-in thermography). Comparison of ILIT with DLIT images reveals the equivalence of these two modes for shunt detection, with ILIT having the advantage of being performed in non-contact mode.