Application of alternative integration methods, to obtain more accurate photovoltaic devices’ parameters, through refinement of the Co-Content function, for Current-Voltage curves with a percentage noise of the short circuit current, measured in the zero volt to open-circuit voltage range

Abstract In this article, the application of the Newton-Cotes quadrature formula, the 3/8 rule, the Boole’s rule, and order 5 and 6 integration techniques, are explored to refine the Co-Content function, of Current-Voltage (IV) measurements done between 0 V and the open circuit voltage, which include a percentage noise of the short circuit current. Their impact on the extraction of the five photovoltaic devices’ parameters (within the one-diode model) is investigated and reported. The shunt resistance, series resistance, ideality factor, and photocurrent can be obtained with less than 10 % error, using these integration techniques and 101 measured points per volt, when the percentage noise is 0.05 % or less, of the short circuit current. It is not possible to obtain the saturation current with less than 10 % error. These integration techniques are implemented in photovoltaic devices, such as solar cells and single-crystalline silicon, CdTe, CIGS, and heterojunction with intrinsic thin-layer solar panels IV curves, to extract the five solar cell parameters. PACS: 73.50.Pz, 73.61.−r, 84.60.Jt, 85.30.−z, 85.30.De, 88.40.−j