article · Langmuir
Inorganic solar cells based on antimony selenide offer high thermal stability and rely on abundant, non-toxic materials, yet single-absorber configurations have traditionally yielded limited conversion efficiency. To address this limitation, a dual-absorber architecture was investigated using SCAPS-1D simulation software. The baseline single-absorber cell achieved a 24.94 percent power conversion efficiency. Introducing a secondary CZTGSe absorber layer alongside an optimised electron transport layer significantly improved photovoltaic metrics. Testing across multiple transport materials revealed tungsten disulfide as the most effective option, especially when paired with a germanium concentration of 0.8 in the CZTGSe layer. Detailed tuning of physical parameters, including layer thickness, doping density, impurity levels, and layer interfaces, produced an overall power conversion efficiency of 37.76 percent alongside an 88.31 percent fill factor. The results demonstrate the viability of dual-absorber configurations for designing highly efficient, stable thin-film solar devices.
Antimony selenide is an attractive material for next-generation solar cells because it is made from abundant, non-toxic elements and possesses strong thermal stability. Demonstrating that dual-absorber designs can overcome the efficiency ceilings of single-absorber cells helps guide the development of cleaner, highly efficient, and cost-effective photovoltaic devices using safer raw materials.
This research provides design guidelines for photovoltaic manufacturers and solar cell developers seeking higher-efficiency thin-film devices using non-toxic materials. Because the findings are based entirely on numerical simulations using SCAPS-1D, the technology remains at an early stage of development and requires experimental fabrication and laboratory testing before any commercial deployment or manufacturing scale-up can occur.
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Inorganic solar cells based on the binary-type metal chalcogenide semiconductor, particularly Sb2Se3, have recently garnered significant interest due to their abundant and nontoxic natural elements, strong thermal stability, and favorable optoelectronic properties. Single-absorber solar cells using antimony selenide have been the most common choice to date but have shown only limited efficiency in converting sunlight into electricity. The primary aim of this research is to examine a device structure that demonstrates an enhanced efficiency. The study explores the potential of utilizing CZTGSe as a secondary absorber layer to enhance photovoltaic performance metrics. The basic solar cell structure studied is FTO/CdS/Sb2Se3/Cu2O/Au, which has a power conversion efficiency of 24.94%. By conducting simulations using SCAPS-1D, an in-depth analysis of the proposed dual-absorber structure (FTO/WS2/Sb2Se3/CZT0.2G0.8Se/Cu2O/Au) was carried out. Solar cell efficiency was enhanced through the adjustment of the Ge concentration in the secondary CZTGSe absorber with various electron transport layers (CdS, ZnSe, WS2, and ZnOS). The findings indicate that optimal efficiency is achieved at a Ge concentration x = 0.8, with WS2 emerging as the most effective among the proposed ETLs. The physical characteristics of the layers, including their thickness, doping density, and impurity level, as well as the interfaces, were then modified to improve device performance. The photovoltaic device achieves a fill factor of 88.31%, a VOC of 1.117 V, a JSC of 38.23 mA/cm2, and an efficiency of 37.76% when all factors are perfectly optimized. This study proposes that CZTGSe has the potential to be utilized in creating a stable, cost-efficient Sb2Se3 solar device with high efficiency.
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DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.4c01472
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