Imaging Current Paths in Silicon Photovoltaic Devices with a Quantum Diamond Microscope
At a Glance
Section titled āAt a Glanceā| Metadata | Details |
|---|---|
| Publication Date | 2022-07-18 |
| Journal | Physical Review Applied |
| Authors | Sam C. Scholten, Gabriel Abrahams, Brett C. Johnson, Alexander J. Healey, Islay O. Robertson |
| Institutions | Centre for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology, The University of Melbourne |
| Citations | 20 |
| Analysis | Full AI Review Included |
ERROR: File too large (16.6MB)
View Original Abstract
Magnetic imaging with nitrogen-vacancy centers in diamond, also known as quantum diamond microscopy, has emerged as a useful technique for the spatial mapping of charge currents in solid-state devices. In this work, we investigate an application to photovoltaic (PV) devices, where the currents are induced by light. We develop a widefield nitrogen-vacancy microscope that allows independent stimulus and measurement of the PV device, and test our system on a range of prototype crystalline silicon PV devices. We first demonstrate micrometer-scale vector magnetic field imaging of custom PV devices illuminated by a focused laser spot, revealing the internal current paths in both short-circuit and open-circuit conditions. We then demonstrate time-resolved imaging of photocurrents in an interdigitated back-contact solar cell, detecting current buildup and subsequent decay near the illumination point with microsecond resolution. This work presents a versatile and accessible analysis platform that may find distinct application in research on emerging PV technologies.