Effects of non-ideal solar simulator spectrum on multi-junction solar cell measurement

Laboratory measurement of the IV parameters of multi-junction (MJ) solar cells is performed using solar simulators designed to match the desired illumination environment as closely as possible. This paper examines the impact of non-idealities in solar simulator spectrum on the measurement of MJ solar cell IV parameter through the use of a multi-zone solar simulator capable of varying light output on each MJ subcell independently. It is shown through offsets in solar simulator spectrum that standard characterization methodology may result in significant error in IV parameter measurement resulting in over or underestimation of cell performance, largely as a result of luminescent coupling.