Intensity Modulated Photocurrent Microspectrosopy for Next Generation Photovoltaics

TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel IMPS microscopy technique using a laser beam induced current microscope to analyze local optoelectrical responses in large-area photovoltaic materials, especially organic and hybrid solar cells, under various stress conditions.

Contribution

It develops a large-area IMPS microscopy system integrated with automated J-V characterization for detailed local analysis of photovoltaic materials.

Findings

Enables localized frequency response mapping of photovoltaic interfaces.

Tracks degradation of organic and hybrid solar cells under environmental stress.

Correlates optoelectrical properties with specific material interfaces.

Abstract

In this report, we describe a large-area Laser Beam Induced Current (LBIC) microscope that has been adapted to perform Intensity Modulated Photocurrent Spectroscopy in an imaging mode combined with automated J-V electrical characterization. Henceforth we refer to the method as either Intensity Modulated Photocurrent Micro-spectroscopy or simply IMPS microscopy. Microscopy based IMPS aims to use the localised frequency response to correlate the optoelectrical response with a particular interface, bulk material, specific transport layer or transport parameter. The system developed here is specifically designed to track the decomposition of organic solar cells including hybrid-inorganic PSCs during long-term exposure to quantities such as light, oxygen, moisture, and heat