The Influence of the Atomic Oxygen Plasma on the Surface and on the Photoelectric Properties of Solar Arrays

The results of measurements of the parameters of photoelectric converters as well as the estimates of the effect of low temperature oxygen plasma erosion on commuting busses materials are presented. Exposure of photoelectric converter systems containing metal commuting busses to oxygen plasma is affecting severely their operating characteristics that include the photoelectrodriving power (Unl) and the short-circuit current (Isc). As a result, the spectral sensitivity of the photo converters is reduced. The subsurface doped regions and the changes in the substrate layers that are caused by appearance of additional recombination centers may be held responsible for these effects. The interaction of the oxygen plasma with the metal parts of solar cells, like the contacts of the commuting busses, results in erosion and sputtering of the silver protective layer. The sputtered away silver can be deposited on the cold surfaces of the photoelectric converters (PEC) that, in turn, may also reduce the operating characteristics. Similar experiments with solar arrays (SA) and with the commuting busses that are protected by glass show an increase of the short-circuit current and the efficiency after exposure to oxygen plasma. This is possible because of a decrease in power losses on contacts and elimination of bridging.

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