scholarly journals Electron Affinity and Bandgap Optimization of Zinc Oxide for Improved Performance of ZnO/Si Heterojunction Solar Cell Using PC1D Simulations

Electronics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Babar Hussain ◽  
Aasma Aslam ◽  
Taj Khan ◽  
Michael Creighton ◽  
Bahman Zohuri
Keyword(s):  
Zinc Oxide ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Conduction Band ◽  
Electron Affinity ◽  
Photovoltaic Cell ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Heterojunction Solar Cell ◽  
Device Structure ◽  
Conduction Band Offset ◽  
Improved Performance

For further uptake in the solar cell industry, n-ZnO/p-Si single heterojunction solar cell has attracted much attention of the research community in recent years. This paper reports the influence of bandgap and/or electron affinity tuning of zinc oxide on the performance of n-ZnO/p-Si single heterojunction photovoltaic cell using PC1D simulations. The simulation results reveal that the open circuit voltage and fill factor can be improved significantly by optimizing valence-band and conduction-band off-sets by engineering the bandgap and electron affinity of zinc oxide. An overall conversion efficiency of more than 20.3% can be achieved without additional cost or any change in device structure. It has been found that the improvement in efficiency is mainly due to reduction in conduction band offset that has a significant influence on minority carrier current.

Enhancement of the performance of CdS/CdTe heterojunction solar cell using TiO2/ZnO bi-layer ARC and V2O5 BSF layers: A simulation approach

2020 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
pp. 20901
Author(s):  
Abdul Kuddus ◽  
Md. Ferdous Rahman ◽  
Jaker Hossain ◽  
Abu Bakar Md. Ismail
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cell ◽  
Short Circuit ◽  
Photovoltaic Performance ◽  
Short Circuit Current ◽  
Short Circuit Current Density ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Heterojunction Solar Cell ◽  
Back Surface ◽  
Heterojunction Solar Cells

This article presents the role of Bi-layer anti-reflection coating (ARC) of TiO2/ZnO and back surface field (BSF) of V2O5 for improving the photovoltaic performance of Cadmium Sulfide (CdS) and Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) based heterojunction solar cells (HJSCs). The simulation was performed at different concentrations, thickness, defect densities of each active materials and working temperatures to optimize the most excellent structure and working conditions for achieving the highest cell performance using obtained optical and electrical parameters value from the experimental investigation on spin-coated CdS, CdTe, ZnO, TiO2 and V2O5 thin films deposited on the glass substrate. The simulation results reveal that the designed CdS/CdTe based heterojunction cell offers the highest efficiency, η of ∼25% with an enhanced open-circuit voltage, Voc of 0.811 V, short circuit current density, Jsc of 38.51 mA cm−2, fill factor, FF of 80% with bi-layer ARC and BSF. Moreover, it appears that the TiO2/ZnO bi-layer ARC, as well as ETL and V2O5 as BSF, could be highly promising materials of choice for CdS/CdTe based heterojunction solar cell.

scholarly journals Complex Investigation of High Efficiency and Reliable Heterojunction Solar Cell Based on an Improved Cu2O Absorber Layer

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (18) ◽  
pp. 4667
Author(s):  
Laurentiu Fara ◽  
Irinela Chilibon ◽  
Ørnulf Nordseth ◽  
Dan Craciunescu ◽  
Dan Savastru ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Reliability Analysis ◽  
High Performance ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Absorber Layer ◽  
Heterojunction Solar Cell ◽  
Complex Investigation ◽  
Heterojunction Solar Cells ◽  
Conduction Band Offset

This study is aimed at increasing the performance and reliability of silicon-based heterojunction solar cells with advanced methods. This is achieved by a numerical electro-optical modeling and reliability analysis for such solar cells correlated with experimental analysis of the Cu2O absorber layer. It yields the optimization of a silicon tandem heterojunction solar cell based on a ZnO/Cu2O subcell and a c-Si bottom subcell using electro-optical numerical modeling. The buffer layer affinity and mobility together with a low conduction band offset for the heterojunction are discussed, as well as spectral properties of the device model. Experimental research of N-doped Cu2O thin films was dedicated to two main activities: (1) fabrication of specific samples by DC magnetron sputtering and (2) detailed characterization of the analyzed samples. This last investigation was based on advanced techniques: morphological (scanning electron microscopy—SEM and atomic force microscopy—AFM), structural (X-ray diffraction—XRD), and optical (spectroscopic ellipsometry—SE and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy—FTIR). This approach qualified the heterojunction solar cell based on cuprous oxide with nitrogen as an attractive candidate for high-performance solar devices. A reliability analysis based on Weibull statistical distribution establishes the degradation degree and failure rate of the studied solar cells under stress and under standard conditions.

scholarly journals Photovoltaic Cell: Optimum Photon Utilisation

2016 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 64-85
Author(s):  
Liam Caruana ◽  
Thomas Nommensen ◽  
Toan Dinh ◽  
Dennis Tran ◽  
Robert McCormick
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Entropy Generation ◽  
Light Trapping ◽  
Photovoltaic Cell ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Light Spectrum ◽  
Energy Incident ◽  
Global Energy Consumption

In the 21st century, global energy consumption has increased exponentially and hence, sustainable energy sources are essential to accommodate for this. Advancements within photovoltaics, in regards to light trapping, has demonstrated to be a promising field of dramatically improving the efficiency of solar cells. This improvement is done by using different nanostructures, which enables solar cells to use the light spectrum emitted more efficiently. The purpose of this meta study is to investigate irreversible entropic losses related to light trapping. In this respect, the observation is aimed at how nanostructures on a silicon substrate captures high energy incident photons. Furthermore, different types of nanostructures are then investigated and compared, using the étendue ratio during light trapping. It is predicted that étendue mismatching is a parasitic entropy generation variable, and that the matching has an effect on the open circuit voltage of the solar cell. Although solar cells do have their limiting efficiencies, according to the Shockley-Queisser theory and Yablonovitch limit, with careful engineering and manufacturing practices, these irreversible entropic losses could be minimized. Further research in energy losses, due to entropy generation, may guide nanostructures and photonics in exceeding past these limits.Keywords: Photovoltaic cell; Shockley-Queisser; Solar cell nanostructures; Solar cell intrinsic and extrinsic losses; entropy; étendue; light trapping; Shockley Queisser; Geometry; Meta-study

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