Solution-processed CZTS thin films and its simulation study for solar cell applications with ZnTe as the buffer layer

Abstract

The use of ZnTe as the buffer layer in the Cu 2 ZnSnS 4 (CZTS) based solar cells showed the improvement in overall e ciency. It may also reduce the overall cost of these cells as both the layers (absorbing and buffer) are having eco-friendly and earth abundant constitutes. The sol-gel spin coating method is used for the deposition of CZTS thin lms on the corning glass substrates. The X-ray diffraction studies showed the peaks corresponding to (112), ( 200), ( 220) and ( 312) planes which con rmed the formation of essential kesterite phase. The optical band gap of the deposited lms was found around 1.9 eV by UVvisible spectrophotometer. The optimum thickness of the absorber layer was investigated based on the performance of ZnO:Al/ZnO/ZnTe/CZTS/Mo cell structure by using AMPS-1D simulation tool, while the tool was moulded by the investigated data from the sol-gel deposited CZTS thin lms. The e ciency of solar cell was found to be increased till 22.64% with increment in the thickness of absorber buffer layer up to 2500 nm and beyond this it starts to decrease. In addition to this, it was also analysed that the current density is improved with operating temperature as it is one of the requirements in the high solar radiation areas where the temperature rise more than 50 C in summer.

Modeling and Simulation of CZTS Solar Cell using Zn1-xMgxO as a buffer layer and Cul as a hole transport layer for efficiency improvement

“…Although there is currently a significant efficiency difference between CZTS and CIGS, numerous groups are conducting extensive research to look for strategies to enhance CZTS performance [17,18]. A significant challenge for CIGS and CZTS technology in the future price reductions are planned while increasing the productivity of related cells, particularly by swapping out the hazardous CdS buffer layer material for a less effective Cd-free buffer [19] CIGS-based cell attempts have shown the usefulness of a number of materials, particularly zinc sulphur (ZnS), having high conversion rates that are similar to the CdS layer [20].…”

SCAPS study on the effect of various hole transport layer on highly efficient 31.86% eco-friendly CZTS based solar cell

“…Various works have been reported that show that CZTS is the best material for thin-film SCs. It has been observed that the CZTS-based SC with zinc telluride (ZnTe) as a buffer layer revealed an impressive power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 23.47% with the SC structure Mo/CZTS/ZnTe/ZnO/ZnO:Al 17 . In another study, TiO 2 was used as ETL, and the tin perovskite CH 3 NH 3 SnI 3 (MASnI 3 ) acted as an absorber layer (FTO/TiO 2 /CH 3 NH 3 SnI 3 /CZTS/Au).…”