Degradation effects of the output electrical characteristics of Si solar cells as a result of ionizing radiation under low light conditions

Abstract

This paper presents results of radiation resistance of different types of commercially available single- and poly-crystalline silicon solar cells. Sample cells were subjected to gamma radiation from gamma radiation source 60Co. Characteristic parameters of solar cells were extracted from obtained I-V curves: open circuit voltage, short circuit current, maximum power point voltage and current, efficiency, fill factor, and series resistance. Obtained results show the level of parameters' degradation with purpose of increasing solar cells applications in radiation environments.