Performance simulation of solar cell based on AZO/CdTe heterostructure by SCAPS 1D software

Abstract

Simulation and analysis of solar cells based on the heterojunction of zinc oxide doped with aluminum (AZO) and cadmium telluride (CdTe) with the structure (Al/AZO/CdTe/NiO/Ni) using the Simulator of the capacitance of solar cells - 1 dimension (SCAPS-1D) has been presented in this paper. AZO is used as a window layer and Nickel oxide (NiO) has been introduced as a hole transport layer (HTL). Through the software, the effect of thickness, absorber (CdTe), and window (AZO) layers carrier concentration, operating temperature, and resistances (series and shunt) have been studied. Simulation results show that the solar cell performance can be greatly improved by adjusting the layer's thickness and carrier concentration, obtaining optimal values of 10 nm and <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mrow><mml:msup><mml:mn>10</mml:mn> <mml:mn>18</mml:mn></mml:msup> <mml:mspace></mml:mspace> <mml:msup><mml:mrow><mml:mi>c</mml:mi> <mml:mi>m</mml:mi></mml:mrow> <mml:mrow><mml:mo>-</mml:mo> <mml:mn>3</mml:mn></mml:mrow> </mml:msup> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> for the AZO layer, while for the CdTe layer they were 2 μm and <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"> <mml:mrow><mml:msup><mml:mn>10</mml:mn> <mml:mn>15</mml:mn></mml:msup> <mml:mspace></mml:mspace> <mml:msup><mml:mrow><mml:mi>c</mml:mi> <mml:mi>m</mml:mi></mml:mrow> <mml:mrow><mml:mo>-</mml:mo> <mml:mn>3</mml:mn></mml:mrow> </mml:msup> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> . The optimum series and shunt resistances are in the range of 1-3 <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mrow><mml:mi>Ω</mml:mi> <mml:msup><mml:mrow><mml:mi>c</mml:mi> <mml:mi>m</mml:mi></mml:mrow> <mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:msup> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> and 1800-2200 <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mrow><mml:mi>Ω</mml:mi> <mml:msup><mml:mrow><mml:mi>c</mml:mi> <mml:mi>m</mml:mi></mml:mrow> <mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:msup> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> respectively. A maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 14.2% is achieved with an open circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.74 V, short circuit current density (Jsc) of 26.15 <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mrow><mml:mi>m</mml:mi> <mml:mi>A</mml:mi> <mml:mo>/</mml:mo> <mml:msup><mml:mrow><mml:mi>c</mml:mi> <mml:mi>m</mml:mi></mml:mrow> <mml:mn>2</mml:mn></mml:msup> </mml:mrow> </mml:math> and a fill factor (FF) of 72.83%, this shows AZO potential to be considered as an interesting material to replace CdS window layer.