Potential efficiency improvement of CuSb(S1-x,Sex)2 thin film solar cells by the Zn(O,S) buffer layer optimization

•The CuSb(S,Se)2 solar cells with a structure of contact/CuSb(S,Se)2/buffer layer/i-nO/ZnO:Al/contact was studied.•CuSbS2 solar cell based on an experimental device (ɳ=3.2%) has been modeled.•Conventional CdS buffer layer replaced by Zn(O,S) buffer layers.•The influence of Se/(Se + S) ratio in the C...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Solar energy 2021-09, Vol.225, p.875-881
Main Authors: Saadat, M., Amiri, O., Mahmood, Peshawa H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Absorbers
Buffer layer
Buffer layers
Carrier density
Conduction band offset
CuSb(S,Se)2 solar cells
Efficiency
Energy conversion efficiency
Optimization
Oxygen
Oxygen content
Photovoltaic cells
Sex
Solar cells
Solar energy
Thin films
Zinc oxide
Zn(O,S)
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:•The CuSb(S,Se)2 solar cells with a structure of contact/CuSb(S,Se)2/buffer layer/i-nO/ZnO:Al/contact was studied.•CuSbS2 solar cell based on an experimental device (ɳ=3.2%) has been modeled.•Conventional CdS buffer layer replaced by Zn(O,S) buffer layers.•The influence of Se/(Se + S) ratio in the CuSb(S1-x,Sex)2 absorber layer and oxygen content in the buffer layer on the performance of the solar cell was investigated.•The influence of carrier concentration of both CuSb(S1-x,Sex)2 absorber and buffer layers was investigated. An initial structure was designed based on CuSbS2 experimental data. Afterward, an investigation on the performance of contact/CuSb(S1-x,Sex)2 alloy/buffer layer/i-ZnO/ZnO:Al/contact has been carried out. The conventional CdS layer was replaced by Zn(O1-y,Sy) layer, and the influence of Se/(Se + S) ratio in the CuSb(S1-x,Sex)2 absorber layer and oxygen content in the buffer layer on the performance of the solar cell were investigated. The influence of carrier concentration of both CuSb(S1-x,Sex)2 absorber and buffer layers are studied to enhance the output performance of CuSb(S1-x,Sex)2 thin-film solar cells. After optimizing the Se content in the absorber layer and oxygen content in the buffer layer, the best device is delivered 5.85% efficiency. However, after optimization of donor concentration in buffer layer the conversion efficiency is further increased to 7.19% for CuSbS2 absorber and donor concentration of 1019 cm−3.
ISSN:0038-092X
1471-1257
DOI:10.1016/j.solener.2021.08.013