The reversal of light-induced degradation in amorphous silicon solar cells by an electric field

A strong electric field has been shown to reverse the light-induced degradation of amorphous silicon solar cells while exposed to intense illumination at moderate temperatures. The rate of reversal increases with temperature, illumination intensity, and with the strength of the reverse bias field. The reversal process exhibits an activation energy on the order of 0.9 eV and can be increased by the trapping of either electrons or holes in the presence of a strong electric field. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.