Efficient ACZTS solar cells using optimized ZnO/metal/ZnO buffer multilayer: A combined FDTD-PSO approach

IF 2.1 4区物理与天体物理 Q3 PHYSICS, CONDENSED MATTER

Solid State Communications Pub Date : 2025-01-12 DOI:10.1016/j.ssc.2025.115842

H. Ferhati , K. Kacha , F. Djeffal

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Kesterite solar cells have been identified as promising candidates for high-efficiency and environmentally sustainable thin-film photovoltaic applications. These devices exhibit tunable bandgap and good optical absorption properties. However, improvements in regarding light absorption, open-circuit deficit and short-circuit current are urgently required to overcome the efficiency limitations. The present investigation aims at developing a new design framework based on combining FDTD-PSO (Particle Swarm Optimization) numerical simulations, in order to improve the photovoltaic performance of the thin-film CZTS solar cells. To do so, comprehensive numerical analysis based on FDTD technique are carried out to study the photovoltaic properties of the solar cell including the impact of various metallic layers (MLs) such as gold, silver and copper inserted in the ZnO buffer layer and its geometry on the device performance. In addition, PSO method is used to identify the best metal choice in ZnO/metal/ZnO buffer and the associated best geometry allowing the highest efficiency of ACZTSSe solar cell. It is found that the insertion of metallic layer in the ZnO film leads to induce enhanced light management, which resulted in improved photovoltaic performances of ACZTSSe solar cell. The optimized structure shows a high power conversion efficiency of 15.8 %, improved short circuit current of 35.7 mA/cm² and a superior fill factor of 74 %. The recorded photovoltaic performances demonstrate the potential of the adopted design strategy for developing efficient thin-film solar cells, which can provide new paths and promising approach to improve the emerging photovoltaic systems based on thin-film technology.

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来源期刊

Solid State Communications 物理-物理：凝聚态物理

CiteScore

3.40

自引率

4.80%

发文量

287

审稿时长

51 days

期刊介绍： Solid State Communications is an international medium for the publication of short communications and original research articles on significant developments in condensed matter science, giving scientists immediate access to important, recently completed work. The journal publishes original experimental and theoretical research on the physical and chemical properties of solids and other condensed systems and also on their preparation. The submission of manuscripts reporting research on the basic physics of materials science and devices, as well as of state-of-the-art microstructures and nanostructures, is encouraged. A coherent quantitative treatment emphasizing new physics is expected rather than a simple accumulation of experimental data. Consistent with these aims, the short communications should be kept concise and short, usually not longer than six printed pages. The number of figures and tables should also be kept to a minimum. Solid State Communications now also welcomes original research articles without length restrictions. The Fast-Track section of Solid State Communications is the venue for very rapid publication of short communications on significant developments in condensed matter science. The goal is to offer the broad condensed matter community quick and immediate access to publish recently completed papers in research areas that are rapidly evolving and in which there are developments with great potential impact.