The Effects of Heat Exposure Over Various Time Intervals on the Performance Characteristics of Monocrystalline Silicon Photo-voltaic Cells

With the rise of awareness for climate change and environmental protection, research into alternative energy sources has becoming increasingly important. One of the most popular forms of renewable energy is solar power. Most commonly built solar panels utilize a collection silicon photovoltaic cells to generate electricity. Our research specifically looks into the efficiency characteristics of monocrystalline silicon photovoltaic cells after they are exposed to intense heat for a predetermined amount of time. The cells were heated at temperatures of 190^oC, 200^oC, and 210^oC, for times ranging from 10 minutes to 110 minutes. An analysis of our data shows an average increase in fill fraction with time for all three temperatures. These results indicate a permanent overall increase in efficiency of the cells compared to baseline values. This outcome proves that we do not need to significantly change the process of production of the cells in order to increase the efficiency.