Enhanced photovoltaic energy yield via pulsed-voltage biasing

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This project will undertake detailed investigation of a new experimental technique which has been observed to increase the output power and effective efficiency of a standard silicon solar cell or panel (which is typically at most 20%), and thereby improve the daily energy production without any modifications to the solar cell itself. The technique requires the external application of high-frequency voltage pulses, applying a strong electric field across the solar cell. This technique will be duplicated in the laboratory using a large-beam solar simulator and custom-built voltage-pulse control hardware. Varying the solar simulator intensity and spectrum as well as the properties of the voltage pulse (repetition rate, duty cycle, pulse amplitude) will reveal the optimal operating conditions and magnitude of the enhancements relative to basic operation. These conditions must be optimized to yield more energy output than energy input by the pulsed bias controller. This technique will also be investigated from a theoretical perspective using computer simulations in the software program, Synopsys Sentaurus. Simulation analysis will aid in the understanding of the optoelectronic properties that may affect this phenomenon and may lead to methods of further enhancing this effect. If this technique proves successful and practical, it would yield a potential method for inexpensively retro-fitting existing solar installations for increased energy output as well as maximizing output from new installations.