Short-circuit current ($I_{\mathrm{sc}}$)

The short-circuit current is the terminal electric current of a device when its terminal voltage is zero. For a solar cell, it is usually denoted $I_{\mathrm{sc}}$ and is obtained from the illuminated current–voltage curve where the two terminals are connected through a sufficiently low-resistance measuring path.

A nonzero short-circuit current establishes photogenerated charge collection, but the delivered terminal power $P=VI$ is zero at an ideal short circuit. Useful electrical output instead requires a finite operating voltage, often near the maximum power point. The short-circuit current depends on illumination, active area and collection efficiency; short-circuit current density divides it by the specified area, allowing devices of different sizes to be compared.