Spectra-Solaris Laboratory

Spectra-Solaris's Electrical Noise measurement set-up is a very powerful research tool able to deliver important information about a variety of physical aspects of the solar cells.  The design, modular in nature, can be easily upgraded or options added at a later time.

This state-of-the-art system has been designed while keeping in mind the specific needs of the present day solar industry. Anyone performing in-depth solar cell technology development or experimental research will benefit from the flexibility, accuracy and breadth of testing capabilities as offered by our low frequency electrical noise set-up. The electrical noise measurements could give important information about device and its manufacturing technology reliability besides the information about noise sources of the device. The noise sources are related to structural imperfections like dislocations, contact issues, metallic clusters, etc. Like a rule, the same phenomena responsible for energy dissipation inside the device are the source of excessive or abnormal noise of the device (the Fluctuation-Dissipation Theorem). This can provide useful tools for decreasing the power loses of the solar cell therefore enhancing its conversion efficiency.

This measurement technique is especially valuable for thin film and organic solar cells which by definition produce large amount of noise due to their imperfect, non-uniform structure.

More information about electrical noise (EN) usefulness in reliability assessment of solar cells could be obtained from our site.  For supplementary information click here.

Our specialists with a vast experience in electrical noise will collaborate closely with you in order to define your measurement needs, to customize the test set-up accordingly and to interpret the results.

Technology:

Spectra-Solaris Laboratory electrical noise measurement (low freqency) set-up is able to perform precision noise measurements in the range 0.01 Hz to 100 kHz using four complementing technolgies: analog direct filtering (bandpass filter banks), analog indirect filtering (lock-in based), statistical (noise pulse amplitiude discrimination) and Fast Fourier Transformation (software version).

System features:

• precise measurement capabilities
• flexible test configurations for a variety of solar cell technologies
• double shielded (electric and magnetic) test enclosure
• irradiation capabilities with continuous light (white or monochromatic) or pulsed/single flash light
• controlled temperature stage and versatile contacting possibilities
• protective Nitrogen atmosphere is possible
• very low noise preamplifier with direct or transformer coupling (for impedance match). The preamplifier has a gain of 10-10⁴, a frequency range of 0.03 Hz to 300 kHz and a noise figure of 0.3 dB at 10 Hz and is battery operated (PAR equipment)
• noise spectral power density by analog bandpass filtering in the range 0.01 Hz to 100 kHz with a maximum resolution of 0.01 Hz (krohn-Hite equipment)
• double phase lock-in amplifier with a sensitivity between 100 nV to 3 Vrms in the band 0.5 Hz to 120 kHz (PAR equipment)
• amplitude probability distribution for digital spectral power calculation (for more information about this original technique click here)
• software based Fast Fourier Transformation
• fully-automated (computer-controlled) test and calibration technology
  
• possible future upgrades
• high quality data acquisition equipment and electronic components ensure the precision, reliability and stability of the measurements.

• full spectral power density of different kinds of noise with a special emphasis on 1/f noise.
• noise amplitude probability distribution for a variety of noise categories including burst noise
• tests at constant temperature or at different operator selected temperatures in the range: ambient to 80^o C
• tests at different levels of irradiation (white or monochromatic in the range 400 nm to 1100 nm), continuous or pulsed/single flash light
• protective Nitrogen atmosphere (on special request)
  
• suitable for crystalline, thin film, dye-sensitized and organic solar cells.


Please contact us at info@spectrasolaris.com for detailed information.