Effect of Electron Transport Layers, Interface Defect Density and Working Temperature on Perovskite Solar Cells Using SCAPS 1-D Software
Abstract
Perovskite solar cells have garnered significant attention from solar cell researchers due to their potential for achieving high efficiency, primarily attributed to their exceptional Electron Transport layer (ETL). One of the key elements of perovskite solar cells for transporting electrons to generate current is the ETL material. Moreover, there is a promising avenue for enhancing stability and reducing fabrication costs by substituting the transport layer. In this study, TiO2 and SnO2 were used as ETL materials in the architecture of perovskite solar cells for a comparative analysis between two devices featuring distinct structures: TiO2/CH3NH3PbI3/Spiro-OMeTAD and SnO2/CH3NH3PbI3/Spiro-OMeTAD. To evaluate the performance of each electron transport layer (ETL), the SCAPS 1D tool was employed. The investigation involved varying the thickness of the electron transport layers, interface defect density and working temperature, allowing for a comprehensive assessment of key parameters such as voltage at open circuit (Voc), short circuit current density (Jsc), fill factor (FF), and overall efficiency (PCE%). Remarkably, when employing SnO2 as the ETL, the achieved efficiency stands at 10.10 %. In contrast, utilizing TiO2 as the ETL yields a slightly higher efficiency of 12.84%. These findings underline the nuanced influence of transport layer materials on the overall performance of perovskite solar cells.
Downloads
References
P. Kumar, S. Kumar, A.A. Adelodun, and K.-H. Kim, "Solar energy: Potential and future prospects," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 82, 894-900 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.09.094
I. Kemerchou, F. Rogti, B. Benhaoua, A. Hima, and A. Khechekhouche, "Characterization of organic/inorganic perovskite material CH3NH3PbI3 prepared by spray pyrolysis with moving nozzle method," Recueil De Mécanique, 4(1), 342–348 (2019). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3447388
A. Kojima, K. Teshima, T. Miyasaka, and Y. Shirai, "Novel photoelectrochemical cell with mesoscopic electrodes sensitized by lead-halide compounds," ECS Meeting Abstracts, MA2006-02, 397 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1149/MA2006-02/7/397
A. Kojima, K. Teshima, Y. Shirai, and T. Miyasaka, "Organometal halide perovskites as visible-light sensitizers for photovoltaic cells," Journal of the american chemical society, 131(17), 6050-6051 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1021/ja809598r
NREL, National renewable energy laboratory: best research‐cell efficiency chart, (2021). https://www.nrel.gov/pv/cell-efficiency.html
M.K. Assadi, S. Bakhoda, R. Saidur, and H. Hanaei, "Recent progress in perovskite solar cells," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 81, 2812-2822 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.06.088
P. Cheng, and X. Zhan, "Stability of organic solar cells: challenges and strategies," Chemical Society Reviews, 45(9), 2544-2582 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1039/C5CS00593K
L.P. Lekesi, L.F. Koao, S.V. Motloung, T.E. Motaung, and T. Malevu, "Developments on Perovskite Solar Cells (PSCs): A Critical Review," Applied Sciences, 12(2), 672 (2022). https://doi.org/10.3390/app12020672
T. Minemoto, Y. Kawano, T. Nishimura, Q. Shen, K. Yoshino, S. Iikubo, S. Hayase, and J. Chantana, "Theoretical analysis of band alignment at back junction in Sn–Ge perovskite solar cells with inverted p-i-n structure," Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 206, 110268 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2019.110268
N. Ito, M.A. Kamarudin, D. Hirotani, Y. Zhang, Q. Shen, Y. Ogomi, S. Iikubo, et al., "Mixed Sn–Ge perovskite for enhanced perovskite solar cell performance in air," The journal of physical chemistry letters, 9(7), 1682-1688 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpclett.8b00275
M. Ng, and J.E. Halpert, "Single crystals of mixed Br/Cl and Sn-doped formamidinium lead halide perovskites via inverse temperature crystallization," RSC Adv, 10(7), 3832-3836 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1039/D0RA00060D
N.-G. Park, "Organometal perovskite light absorbers toward a 20% efficiency low-cost solid-state mesoscopic solar cell," The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 4(15), 2423-2429 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1021/jz400892a
B. Farhadi, M. Ciprian, F. Zabihi, and A. Liu, "Influence of contact electrode and light power on the efficiency of tandem perovskite solar cell: Numerical simulation," Solar Energy, 226, 161-172 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2021.08.043
M. Burgelman, P. Nollet, and S. Degrave, "Modelling polycrystalline semiconductor solar cells," Thin solid films, 361, 527-532 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1016/S0040-6090(99)00825-1
Y.H. Khattak, Doct. Thesis, Modeling of high power conversion efficiency thin film solar cells, Universitat Politècnica de València, 2019. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/118802
M. Burgelman, K. Decock, A. Niemegeers, J. Verschraegen, and S. Degrave, SCAPS manual, (University of Gent Department of Electronics and Information Systems (ELIS) Campus Ardoyen, Technologiepark 914, Grote Steenweg Noord 9052 Gent-Zwijnaarde ‘Belgium’, 2016).
A. Husainat, W. Ali, P. Cofie, J. Attia, and J. Fuller, "Simulation and analysis of methylammonium lead iodide (CH3NH3PbI3) perovskite solar cell with Au contact using SCAPS 1D simulator," American Journal of Optics and Photonics, 7(2), 33 (2019). https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajop.20190702.12
B.M. Soucase, I.G. Pradas, and K.R. Adhikari, "Numerical simulations on perovskite photovoltaic devices," in: Perovskite Materials - Synthesis, Characterisation, Properties, and Applications, edited by L. Pan, and G. Zhu, 445, (IntechOpen, 2016). https://doi.org/10.5772/61751
Hazeghi, F. and S.M.B. Ghorashi, "Simulation of perovskite solar cells by using CuSCN as an inorganic hole-transport material," Materials Research Express, 6(9), 095527 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1088/2053-1591/ab2f1b
T. Pu, H. Shen, and Q. Tang, "Simulation of a charged Al2O3 film as an assisting passivation layer for a-Si passivated contact P-type silicon solar cells," Silicon, 14(7), 3339-3348 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-021-01105-4
S.T. Jan, and M. Noman, "Influence of layer thickness, defect density, doping concentration, interface defects, work function, working temperature and reflecting coating on lead-free perovskite solar cell," Solar Energy, 237, 29-43 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2022.03.069
R. Kotipalli, B. Vermang, J. Joel, R. Rajkumar, M. Edoff, and D. Flandre, "Investigating the electronic properties of Al2O3/Cu(In, Ga) Se2 interface," AIP Advances, 5(10), 107101 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4932512
K. Tan, P. Lin, G. Wang, Y. Liu, Z. Xu, and Y. Lin, "Controllable design of solid-state perovskite solar cells by SCAPS device simulation," Solid-State Electronics, 126, 75-80 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sse.2016.09.012
H. Abedini-Ahangarkola, S. Soleimani-Amiri, and S.G. Rudi, "Modeling and numerical simulation of high efficiency perovskite solar cell with three active layers," Solar Energy, 236, 724-732 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2022.03.055
J. Lontchi, M. Zhukova, M. Kovacic, J. Krc, W.-C. Chen, M. Edoff, S. Bose, et al., "Optimization of Back Contact Grid Size in Al2O3-Rear-Passivated Ultrathin CIGS PV Cells by 2-D Simulations," IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics, 10(6), 1908-1917 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1109/JPHOTOV.2020.3012631
T. Minemoto, and M. Murata, "Impact of work function of back contact of perovskite solar cells without hole transport material analyzed by device simulation," Current Applied Physics, 14(11), 1428-1433 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cap.2014.08.002
D. Stanić, V. Kojić, T. Čižmar, K. Juraić, L. Bagladi, J. Mangalam, T. Rath, and A. Gajović, "Simulating the performance of a formamidinium based mixed cation lead halide perovskite solar cell," Materials, 14(21), 6341 (2021). https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14216341
S. Abdelaziz, A. Zekry, A. Shaker, and M. Abouelatta, "Investigating the performance of formamidinium tin-based perovskite solar cell by SCAPS device simulation," Optical Materials, 101, 109738 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optmat.2020.109738
S. Bansal, and P. Aryal, "Evaluation of new materials for electron and hole transport layers in perovskite-based solar cells through SCAPS-1D simulations," in: 2016 IEEE 43rd Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC), (IEEE, 2016). pp.1-4. https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC.2016.7749702
H.-J. Du, W.-C. Wang, and J.-Z. Zhu, "Device simulation of lead-free CH3NH3SnI3 perovskite solar cells with high efficiency," Chinese Physics B, 25(10), 108802 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1088/1674-1056/25/10/108802
D. Liu, and T.L. Kelly, "Perovskite solar cells with a planar heterojunction structure prepared using room-temperature solution processing techniques," Nature photonics, 8(2), 133-138 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphoton.2013.342
M.D. Stamate, "On the dielectric properties of dc magnetron TiO2 thin films," Applied Surface Science, 218(1-4), 318-323 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-4332(03)00624-X
S. Karthick, S. Velumani, and J. Bouclé, "Experimental and SCAPS simulated formamidinium perovskite solar cells: A comparison of device performance," Solar Energy, 205, 349-357 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2020.05.041
Y. Gan D. Zhao, B. Qin, X. Bi, Y. Liu, W. Ning, R. Yang, and Q. Jiang, "Numerical Simulation of High-Performance CsPbI3/FAPbI3 Heterojunction Perovskite Solar Cells," Energies, 15(19), 7301 (2022). https://doi.org/10.3390/en15197301
E. Danladi, M.Y. Onimisi, S. Garba, R.U. Ugbe, J.A. Owolabi, O.O. Ige, G.J. Ibeh, and A.O. Muhammed, "Simulation and optimization of lead-based perovskite solar cells with cuprous oxide as a P-type inorganic layer," Journal of the Nigerian Society of Physical Sciences, 72-81 (2019). https://doi.org/10.46481/jnsps.2019.13
S.B. Zerarka Selssabil, M.Sc. thesis, "Study of electron transport effect on perovskite solar cells using simulation," University Mohamed Khider de Biskra, 2020.
M.S. Rahman, S. Miah, M.S.W. Marma, and T. Sabrina, "Simulation based investigation of inverted planar perovskite solar cell with all metal oxide inorganic transport layers," in: 2019 International Conference on Electrical, Computer and Communication Engineering (ECCE), (IEEE, 2019).
A.K. Das, R. Mandal, and D. Mandal, "Impact of HTM on lead-free perovskite solar cell with high efficiency," Optical and Quantum Electronics, 54(7), 1-20 (2022). https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-1366687/v1
U. Mehmood, A. Al-Ahmed, F.A. Al-Sulaiman, M.I. Malik, F. Shehzad, and A. Ul Haq Khan, "Effect of temperature on the photovoltaic performance and stability of solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 79, 946-959 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.05.114
Copyright (c) 2024 Abubakar S. Yusuf, A.M. Ramalan, A.A. Abubakar, I.K. Mohammed
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
