Carrier lifetime in high efficiency silicon solar cells for space applications using temperature-dependent photoexcited muon spin spectroscopy

Solar energy is a promising solution to global energy demands, offering a clean and abundant alternative to fossil fuels. High efficiency silicon solar cells are at the forefront of this transformation. For space applications, where efficiency and reliability are critical, understanding the charge carrier dynamics in next generation solar cells is essential for optimizing their performance in extreme environments. Building upon our previous beamtime experiment (RB2510159) that took place in February 2025, we propose a continuation study using temperature-dependent photoexcited muon spin spectroscopy (photo-µSR) to investigate carrier lifetimes in high-efficiency silicon solar cells for space applications. Our initial measurements provided valuable insights into carrier recombination mechanisms in state-of-the-art Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact (TOPCon) and Silicon Heterojunction (SHJ) solar cells – two leading technologies for next-generation photovoltaics. However, several methodological challenges and unexpected trends in the measured data necessitate a subsequent, refined investigation. The findings will advance the development of more efficient solar cells for space applications and further extending the application of photo-µSR to other semiconductor devices.