Photovoltaic converters resistive parameters effect on its IV-curves and electroluminescence maps

The IV-curves and electroluminescence (EL) maps of four AlGaAs/GaAs photovoltaic converters (PVCs) differing in the design of contact grids have been investigated. It is shown that EL map form comparative analysis allows to determine how the current flow process changes both inside the semiconductor layers (between the contact strips) and inside the metal contacts. The characteristics of all samples have been analyzed by a previously developed method with using the tube model of current flow. For all PVCs, saturation currents, sheet resistance, and resistance of metal contacts have been determined. The obtained values agreed with the differences incorporated in the design of PVC contact grids.