Effects of ZnS Buffer Layer on Performance of CIGS Solar Cell

  • Laid Abdelali Applied Material Laboratory, University Djillali Liabes of Sidi Bel Abbes, Algeria https://orcid.org/0009-0009-9173-3835
  • Hamza Abid Applied Material Laboratory, University Djillali Liabes of Sidi Bel Abbes, Algeria
  • Ikram Zidani Applied Material Laboratory, University Djillali Liabes of Sidi Bel Abbes, Algeria https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8900-5261
  • Aissa Meksi Electrical Engineering Department University of Sciences and Technology of Oran, Algeria, El Mnaouer, Oran, Algeria https://orcid.org/0009-0007-1698-5069
  • Zaid Bendaoudi Department of Electrotechnical & Automatic Engeneering, University of Relizane, Algeria
  • Abdellah Bouguenna University of Sciences & Technology of Oran (MB-USTO), 31000, Oran, Algeria https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3492-5418
DOI: https://doi.org/10.26565/2312-4334-2024-4-50
Keywords: Buffer layer (ZnS), CIGS, Solar cell, Optimization, Silvaco-Atlas

Abstract

Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS)-based thin-film solar cells are currently among the most efficient. Zinc sulfide (ZnS) is the best buffer layer used in CIGS-based solar cells because it is non-toxic and has a wide band gap. In this study, we present a simulation of a CIGS solar cell with a ZnS buffer layer, carried out using the Silvaco-Atlas simulator. We attained an efficiency of 24.13%, short-circuit current of 37.81 mA/cm2, an open circuit voltage of 740 mV and a fill factor of 78.78% at a bandgap around 1.41 eV, corresponding to an x ratio of 0.5. The photovoltaic performance of the ZnS/CIGS solar cell is improved by optimizing the effects of layer parameters such as thickness, acceptor and donor densities of the CIGS absorber and ZnS buffer layers. For a 0.035 μm thick ZnS acceptor with a density of 6 × 1017 cm-3 and a 3 μm thick CIGS donor with a density of 1018 cm-3, a maximum efficiency improved to 27.22%.

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Published
2024-12-08
Cited
How to Cite
Abdelali, L., Abid, H., Zidani, I., Meksi, A., Bendaoudi, Z., & Bouguenna, A. (2024). Effects of ZnS Buffer Layer on Performance of CIGS Solar Cell. East European Journal of Physics, (4), 427-432. https://doi.org/10.26565/2312-4334-2024-4-50
Issue
No. 4 (2024): East European Journal of Physics
Section
Original Papers

Copyright (c) 2024 Laid Abdelali, Hamza Abid, Ikram Zidani, Aissa Meksi, Abdellah Bouguenna, Zaid Bendaoudi

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