Characteristic curves of a solar cell

Principle

The current-voltage characteristics of a solar cell are measured at different light intensities, the distance between the light source and the solar cell being varied. The dependence of no-load voltage and short-circuit current on temperature is determined.

Benefits

• Set-up allows quantitative measurement which also takes light intensity into account
• Set-up allows to avoid but also to measure temperature effect quantitatively
• Determine relationship between short-circuit and light intensity

Tasks

1. To determine the light intensity with the thermopile at various distances from the light source.
2. To measure the short-circuit current and no-load voltage at various distances from the light source.
3. To estimate the dependence of no-load voltage, and short-circuit current on temperature.
4. To plot the current-voltage characteristic at different light intensities.
5. To plot the current-voltage characteristic under different operating conditions: cooling the equipment with a blower, no cooling, shining the light through a glass plate.
6. To determine the characteristic curve when illuminated by sunlight.

Learning objectives

• Semiconductor
• p-n junction
• Energy-band diagram
• Fermi characteristic energy level
• Diffusion potential
• Internal resistance
• Efficiency
• Photo-conductive effect
• Acceptors
• Donors
• Valence band
• Conduction band