ISIS Neutron and Muon Source Data Journal
This is a page describing data taken during an experiment at the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source. Information about the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source can be found at https://www.isis.stfc.ac.uk.
Carrier lifetime in high efficiency silicon solar cells for space applications using temperature-dependent photoexcited muon spin spectroscopy
Abstract: Silicon solar cells are widely used in space applications due to their cost-effectiveness, but their performance at extreme temperatures requires further study. This proposal aims to investigate temperature-dependent carrier lifetime in high-efficiency silicon solar cells using photo-µSR. Photo-µSR offers a unique advantage by measuring carrier lifetimes through metal contact structures and at various depths, making it ideal for studying completed solar cells. We will focus on two leading technologies: Tunnel oxide passivated contact (TOPCon) and silicon heterojunction (SHJ) solar cells. By analysing these cells across a temperature range from 77 K to 400 K, we aim to explore the underlying recombination mechanisms such as the impact of carrier freeze-out at low temperatures and the role of un-ionised dopants acting as recombination centre. Our previous beamtime demonstrated the effectiveness of photo-µSR in completed solar cells, which will serve as a foundation for this study. The findings will advance the development of more efficient solar cells for space applications and further extending the application of photo-µSR to other semiconductor devices.
Principal Investigator: Ms Anup Yadav
Experimenter: Professor John Murphy
Experimenter: Dr James Lord
Experimenter: Dr Sophie Pain
Local Contact: Dr Koji Yokoyama
Experimenter: Dr Nicholas Grant
DOI: 10.5286/ISIS.E.RB2510159
ISIS Experiment Number: RB2510159
| Part DOI | Instrument | Public release date | Download Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10.5286/ISIS.E.RB2510159-1 | HIFI | 28 February 2028 | Download |
Publisher: STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source
Data format: RAW/Nexus
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Data Citation
The recommended format for citing this dataset in a research
publication is as:
[author], [date], [title], [publisher],
[doi]
For Example:
Ms Anup Yadav et al; (2025): Carrier lifetime in high efficiency silicon solar cells for space applications using temperature-dependent photoexcited muon spin spectroscopy , STFC ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, https://doi.org/10.5286/ISIS.E.RB2510159
Data is released under the CC-BY-4.0 license.
