Numerical Simulation and Performance Optimization of a Solar Cell Based on WO3/CdTe Heterostructure Using NiO as HTL Layer by SCAPS 1D

Abstract

In this paper, a solar cell based on (Formula presented.) /CdTe heterojunction was analyzed and optimized, for which the following structure of the Al/AZO/ (Formula presented.) /CdTe/NiO/Ni device was proposed, which was numerically simulated by the SCAPS 1-D software. Using the software, the effect of the thickness and carrier concentration of the absorber layer (CdTe) and the window layer ((Formula presented.)) was analyzed, and the optimal value of these parameters was found to be 2 µm and (Formula presented.) for the CdTe layer and 10 nm and (Formula presented.) for the (Formula presented.) layer, respectively. The influence of the defect density of the (Formula presented.) /CdTe interface on the performance of the proposed cell was also analyzed, simulating from (Formula presented.) to (Formula presented.)   (Formula presented.), obtaining better device performance at lower interface defect density. Another parameter analyzed was the operating temperature on the photovoltaic performance of the device, observing that the solar cell has a better performance at lower temperatures. Finally, a maximum optimized PCE of 19.87% is obtained with a Voc = 0.85 V, Jsc = 28.45 (Formula presented.), and FF = 82.03%, which makes the (Formula presented.) /CdTe heterojunction an interesting alternative for the development of CdTe-based solar cells.