Determining subcell carrier-collection efficiencies of triple-junction solar cells using time-resolved photoluminescence

Time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) is very useful for analyzing carrier dynamics and electrical properties of subcells which cannot be contacted directly. We investigate the excitation spot-size dependence of the PL decay time constants which are observed at high excitation powers. The excitation spot-size dependence is approximately linear and almost the same for both time constants. The origin of the spot-size dependence and the method for obtaining the subcell carrier-collection efficiencies are discussed.