Application of digital micromirror devices for spectral-response characterization of solar cells and photovoltaics

Abstract

A key parameter in evaluating the performance of photovoltaic (PV) solar cells is characterization of electrical response to various incident source spectra. Conventional techniques utilize monochromators that emit single band-passes across a spectral region of interest. Since many solar cells respond differently at different broadband source light levels, a white bias light source that raises the overall light level to simulate the sun's broadband emission is typically introduced. However, such sources cannot render realistic solar continua. We present some initial results demonstrating how a spectrally-dispersed broadband source modulated with Texas Instruments' Digital Light Projection (DLP®) technology can be used to more faithfully synthesize solar spectra for this application.