Numerical analysis for efficiency limits of experimental perovskite solar cell

• Published in: Solar energy 2022-03, Vol.235, p.200-208
• Main Authors: Marí Soucase, Bernabé, Baig, Faisal, Hameed Khattak, Yousaf, Vega, Erika, Mollar, Miguel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Controlled conditions; Curve fitting; Defects; Devices; Energy conversion efficiency; Fabrication; Humidity; Lead compounds; Maximum power; Metal halides; Numerical analysis; Parameters; Perovskite; Perovskites; Photovoltaic cells; Photovoltaics; SCAPS; Solar cell; Solar cells; Solar energy; Spin coating; Titanium dioxide
• ISSN: 0038-092X; 1471-1257
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2022.02.051

•Fabrication of TiO2/MAPbI3/Spiro-OMETAD/Au solar cell. A total of 40 devices divided in 5 pixels.•PCE was found to vary between 14.71% and 5.82%.•To find the limitation numerical analysis was performed on fabricated structure in SCAPS-1D.•Numerical study relates the loss in PCE due to defects in absorber layer and at the interface between each layer. The perovskite solar cells fabrication showed a maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 14.79% for MAPbI3 solar cells with controlled humidity of 35% in ambient air by employing a cost-effective one-step spin-coating process. Eight sets of devices following the sequence TiO2/MAPbI3/Spiro-OMETAD were fabricated in the same controlled conditions, but their performances were different from one set to another. To explain the limit in the PCE for the different devices, we obtained numerically the photovoltaic parameters and compared them with the experimental photovoltaic values. To do so, we first fabricated lead halide perovskite solar cells in a controlled humidity environment and under the same operating conditions, but the PCE of these devices varied from 14.70 % to 10.14%. Therefore, to analyze the effects on the performance of these devices, a numerical analysis of device performance in the SCAPS environment was carried out by fitting the JV curves of some devices under the influence of different parameters like defects in the interface layers and defects in the perovskite layer. Analysis showed that device performance was greatly affected by the presence of defects in both interphases; the Spiro-OMETAD/MAPbI3 and in the blocking layer or the mesoporous layer/ MAPbI3 interphase The outcomes of this work may provide valuable guidelines for the better performance of the MAPbI3 solar cells.