Microplasma breakdown in high-concentration III-V solar cells

III-V high-concentration solar cells have demonstrated a significant degree of technological maturity. However, before their implantation on an industrial scale, these devices need to go through many tests in order to prove their reliability. While carrying out these tests in reverse bias, microplasma breakdown was found in these devices. Therefore, this letter presents the microplasma breakdown, never reported before, for III-V solar cells. It gives an explanation to such an anomalous reverse I-V curve and analyzes its future influence in the device degradation.