Thermal Sensibility Analysis of Photoelectric Dark Current

Abstract

The present study evaluates the sensibility of photovoltaics cells relative to changes in temperature. To determine the total energy loss of the photovoltaic cells, the experimental aspect uses the single exponential model. The series resistance and dark saturation current are determined with the current–voltage curves in a dark forward bias condition using a dark static method. The shunt resistance is evaluated directly by measuring the current in a dark reverse biased condition. In this way the reverse saturation current is measured which is the primary cause of photoelectric conversion efficiency reduction. Despite that the saturation current phenomenon has been investigated under standard test conditions and that multiple theoretical models have been developed, there lacks experimental results elucidating the full nature of the relationship between saturation current and temperature. The present research provides a complete description of how photovoltaic cells are affected by temperature.