Status and Prospects of Solar Cell Characterization

This review presents an overview of state-of-the-art solar cell characterization techniques employed in end-of-line testing within high-throughput manufacturing environments. The technologies currently in use are introduced and their relevance to meeting industrial timing constraints is discussed. The effectiveness of established characterization methods is evaluated in the context of quality classification, price determination, and process optimization. Expanding beyond conventional approaches, the review addresses emerging requirements for advanced solar cell architectures - specifically tandem solar cells - and highlights novel techniques such as contactless IV measurements. The new requirements and challenges posed by tandem solar cell architectures are described, along with initial strategies developed to address these issues. Finally, a comparative assessment is provided of contactless and traditional contacting IV techniques based on their capability to satisfy the comprehensive requirements for solar cell characterization.