The Effects of Extreme Cold on Polycrystalline Photovoltaic Solar Cells

This project will examine how solar cells perform under conditions of extreme cold. Polycrystalline photovoltaic solar cells were tested to get their baseline currents and voltages, producing the standard IV curve. The cells were then submerged in liquid nitrogen for set intervals of time. Once removed from the nitrogen, they were allowed to reach room temperature and sit overnight. Each cell was then retested to get new currents and voltages, producing a new IV curve. The experiments produced results showing that the submersion in liquid nitrogen actually improved their performance. This implies that under certain conditions, exposure to extreme cold could actually enhance the performance of polycrystalline photovoltaic solar cells.