IV-Characterization of Devices Consisting of Solar Cells and Tunnel Diodes

A seemingly hysteretic behavior in the IV-characteristic of multi-junction solar cells and other tunnel diode structures has been observed during the last two years of intensive research at Fraunhofer ISE. This paper provides the results of calculations and experiments to understand the reasons for this effect, appearing with all devices consisting of solar cells and tunnel diodes. Solutions to overcome the measurement difficulties and to derive parameters, such as the maximum tunneling current, are provided and the reason for the observed hysteretic behavior of multi-junction cells is explained