Toward Megapixel Resolution Compressed Sensing Current Mapping of Photovoltaic Devices Using Digital Light Processing

Photocurrent response mapping is a powerful imaging technique for assessing defects and losses in photovoltaic devices. However, it has not enjoyed widespread application because high-resolution measurements of large samples can last several hours, while weak signals from micrometer-sized laser spots require lock-in amplification. An alternative approach presented recently is the use of digital micromirror devices combined with compressed sensing theory. There are significant benefits when using such methods, such as signal amplification, undersampling options, and simplified measurement systems. Nevertheless, high computational requirements have limited the experimental application of this method to low-resolution outputs. Herein, the mathematical background and the experimental approach toward megapixel resolution, ultrafast compressed sensing current mapping are presented, overcoming previous computational and experimental barriers. A high-power digital light processing projection system is developed for the experimental application. Solutions to computational issues, sampling optimization, and measurement strategies are presented and the flexibility of the system regarding the sizes of photovoltaic devices that can be measured is demonstrated.

Automated summary

Photocurrent response mapping is a powerful imaging technique for assessing defects and losses in photovoltaic devices, but its widespread application is hindered by long measurement times for high-resolution measurements and the need for lock-in amplification for weak signals from micrometer-sized laser spots. An alternative approach using digital micromirror devices combined with compressed sensing theory offers benefits such as signal amplification, undersampling options, and simplified measurement systems, but high computational requirements limit experimental application to low-resolution outputs.