- Ageing Tests under MPP-tracking
- single-junction, modules and tandem
The Helmholtz Innovation Lab HySPRINT provides a unique infrastructure with the purpose to test and age perovskite solar cells (PSC) for the improvement of device stability under realistic ageing conditions at high device numbers allowing high throughput as well as a high level of statistical confidence. The lab is equipped for long term measurements and ageing of single-junction PSC and monolithic tandem solar cells (e.g. PSK/Silicon and PSK/CIGS) under realistic conditions.
Solar cells in power plants are operated at their Maximum Power Point (MPP), and it was found that the stability of PSC is strongly dependent on the electric load applied while the ageing test is performed. Thus, only MPP-Tracking will give realistic predictions of cell lifetime. Our High-Throughput Aging-System is equipped with electronics that allow us to MPP-track more than 380 solar cells in parallel. Testing is performed under AM1.5G light with 1 sun intensity. The sample environment can be set to nitrogen, other gases, or air. The substrate temperature is permanently controlled (constant or cycling) between -10-85°C. Sequential JV scans can be performed to gain further insights into device behavior. Automated dark-light cycles can be performed. Voc, Jsc and constant voltage ageing is also possible.
The Tandem Ageing-System is equipped with electronics that allow us to track 4 tandem solar cells in parallel. As the performance of monolithic tandem solar cells is strongly dependent on the utilized spectrum, an array of 193 LEDs with two different peak wavelengths was engineered. The 470 nm and 940 nm centre emission wavelengths are absorbed in the top- and bottom cell, respectively. Both intensities can be tuned independently to adjust the desired photocurrents of the subcells. With this, we can artificially induce a mismatch between the subcells in a controlled way. The cells are measured in ambient conditions with a controlled temperature of 25°C
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Services currently offered by the infrastructure
- Variation of PSC single junction and tandem stacks and studying the influence on stability
- High confidence level: Reproducibility, in general, is an issue in PSC research. Having a high number of devices, we can track the number of cells of a particular stack that survive the ageing procedure and provide reliable statistics.
- Before/after studies: We perform various characterisation methods (SEM, XRD, PL, EL, EQE and others) on devices before and after ageing.
- Variation of ageing conditions: The setup allows us to explore different ageing conditions. Variables are: Light intensity, UV illumination, ageing atmosphere, electric load, temperature.
- Long term stability tests of tandem solar cells
- Investigation of the stability of current matched and artificially mismatched solar cells as this mismatch occurs over the course of the day (change of the spectrum)
Investigation of encapsulation layers for tandem solar cells
To access under VIPERLAB Project
- HySPRINT Lab offers a platform for cooperation with industrial partners, where novel materials and energy-efficient process technologies are being developed for applications such as solar energy conversion or sensor technology.
- Number of days spent typically at the infrastructure for an experiment: ca. 3 days. Users are guided, tutored and trained by HySPRINT staff in compliance with work safety regulations
- HySPRINT service requests are submitted at any time (no deadline) to the VIPERLAB single point of contact at HZB using a standardized written form. After approval by VIPERLAB, the HySPRINT Steering Board will decide, if and when the request can be granted. All procedures strictly follow the principles of transparency, fairness and impartiality. Approval will be based on the scientific merit of the applications with priority to new users and users coming from countries where such infra-structure is not available. Further selection criteria include the scope and feasibility of the planned work, the compatibility with the already scheduled work in progress, and the relevance to industrial partnerships.
- Remarks on integration of users into the scheduling of the RI: Scheduling of user visits is accomplished as part of a transparent user request review procedure.
At HySPRINT – Stability Lab, a minimum quantity of 450 access days (on the basis of unit costs) will be provided, giving access to ca. 30 users (assuming an average of 15 days per experiment). Due to the fact that the stability tests are long-term experiments (15 days), the number of days when the users need to be present at the infrastructure can be reduced to 3 days. This is justified since the users do not have to be present throughout the whole runtime of the experiment
Support offered
Quality of scientific environment: The HySPRINT innovation lab of HZB is part of the Berlin-Adlershof science campus. Users will benefit from (i) the unique world-class infrastructure of the HySPRINT Lab, (ii) the on-site availability of almost all methods of materials diagnostics and materials testing enabling a complete on demand characterization of the processed materials as required, (iii) the networking opportunities with world-class researchers and visiting scientists from a large number of members of the Adlershof science campus, including institutes, universities and high-tech companies, and (iv) the readily available on-campus accommodation that many thousands of visiting researchers take advantage of every year.
Partecipation in others relevant Research Projects or activities connected to VIPERLAB
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