The SCAPS-1D Simulation and Optimization of Organic Hole-Transport Layer in AZO/CdTe Solar Cells Using an Experimentally Calibrated Baseline Model

Abstract

Solar cell capacitance simulator-one dimension (SCAPS-1D) is used to simulate and analyse solar cells based on the heterojunction of aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) and cadmium telluride (CdTe) with the structure of Al/n-AZO/p-CdTe/HTL/Ni. Three distinct organic hole-transport layer (HTL) are employed, including Spiro-OMeTAD, PEDOT-PSS, and P3HT which were simulated for this investigation. The effect of thickness and acceptor charge density of three HTLs, interface-defect of AZO/CdTe and CdTe/HTL and operating temperature have been studied and optimized. The device structure n-AZO/p-CdTe with metal-based HTL like NiO were compared, with PCE values of 14.2%, the best performance of the n-AZO/p-CdTe solar device with organic HTLs including Spiro-OMeTAD, PEDOT-PSS, and P3HT proved maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) values of 24.54%, 24.09%, and 22.76%, respectively. The simulated performance of the device structure Al/AZO/CdTe/HTL/Ni is validated by using the experimental and simulated FTO/CdS/CdTe/HTL device.