Abstract

In this manuscript, we present a study on the effects of magnetic field on charge carrier effective lifetime within the base of a polycrystalline PV solar cell p-n junction. This study is elaborated in two forms as a theoretical study and an experimental study. Indeed, under various magnetic field values, PV solar cell is illuminated by using the light from stroboscopic. From a theoretical approach mainly use the open circuit voltage decay method.  Green’s functions and boundaries conditions are used to solve charge carrier’s diffusion equation. Open circuit transient voltage decay expression is found. The charge carriers’ effective lifetime values inversely proportional to the slope of open circuit voltage decay curve are deducted. A simple experimental set-up used open circuit voltage decay method mainly, these experimental measurements of charge carriers’ effective lifetime are done and the effects of magnetic field are then outlined. Globally, magnetic effects on effective charge carrier lifetime are then analyzed. These two types of results obtained present qualitatively the decay of charge carriers’ effective lifetime when magnetic field increase. In the first time, theoretical results and experimental results are in good agreement and in the second time these results are in good agreement with literature results.

Key words: Effective lifetime, open circuit voltage decay, magnetic field.