Keithley 4200A-SCS

Model 4200A
-SCS Parameter Analyzer Reference Manual Section 4: Multi-frequency capacitance-
voltage unit
4200A-901-01 Rev. C / February 2017 4-93
Solar Cell Project (solarcell)
To determine the electrical characteristics of a photovoltaic (PV) cell, a 4200-SMU and 4210-CVU are
used to perform I-V, C-V, and C-F sweeps. Graphs are generated from the collected current,
capacitance, frequency, and voltage data.
Formulator calculations are made to determine the following electrical characteristics of the PV cell:
• I-V testing: The Formulator calculates power (P), current (CURR), maximum power (PMAX),
maximum current (IMAX), maximum voltage (VMAX), short-circuit current (ISC), open-circuit
voltage (VOC), and fill factor (FF).
• C-V testing: The Formulator calculates inverse capacitance (INV_C) and the doping density (N).
I-V testing generates the following graphs:
• Current versus voltage graph for a forward-biased PV cell. Formulator formulas calculate the
electrical characteristics of the cell.
• Current versus voltage graph for a reversed-biased PV cell.
C-V testing generates the following graphs:
• Capacitance versus voltage graph for a reversed-biased PV cell.
• A 1/C
2
(inverse capacitance) and capacitance versus voltage graph for a PV cell. 1/C
2
and doping
density are calculated by the Formulator.
• Capacitance versus frequency graph.
The testing process is typically repeated using different light intensities and temperature conditions.