Deep Learning Model to Denoise Luminescence Images of Silicon Solar Cells

Abstract

Luminescence imaging is widely used to identify spatial defects and extract key electrical parameters of photovoltaic devices. To reliably identify defects, high-quality images are desirable; however, acquiring such images implies a higher cost or lower throughput as they require better imaging systems or longer exposure times. This study proposes a deep learning-based method to effectively diminish the noise in luminescence images, thereby enhancing their quality for inspection and analysis. The proposed method eliminates the requirement for extra hardware expenses or longer exposure times, making it a cost-effective solution for image enhancement. This approach significantly improves image quality by >30% and >39% in terms of the peak signal-to-noise ratio and the structural similarity index, respectively, outperforming state-of-the-art classical denoising algorithms.