Image Capture, Processing and Analysis of Solar Cells for Engineering Education

We explore the use of several image capture, processing, and analysis techniques and methodologies to study various aspects of solar cells including their materials, device operation, defects, variability, and reliability. Laboratory projects using low-cost fluorescent cameras, visible and near-IR cameras, and laser scanning are used to characterize the grain structure, defects, surface roughness, reflectivity, and photovoltaic effects in common solar cell materials (e.g., monocrystalline and multicrystalline silicon wafers, thin film solar cells, commercial silicon solar cells, and photovoltaic modules. Captured images can be imported into MATLAB or other widely-available image processing software for analysis and interpretation. Topical laboratory modules and projects can teach across engineering disciplines including materials science, optics, quality control, semiconductor devices, and renewable energy.