Numerical Simulation of CZTSe Based Solar Cells Using Different Back Surface Field Layers: Improvement and Comparison

This work reports on a numerical modeling of Cu2ZnSnSe4 (CZTSe) thin film based solar cells using Solar Cell Capacitance Simulator (SCAPS). First, a conventional CZTSe/CdS/ZnO solar cell structure has been proposed and optimized. The optimal output parameters (power conversion efficiency PCE = 24.50%, short circuit current density J(sc) = 47.732 mA/cm(2), fill factor FF = 80.478% and open circuit voltage V-oc = 0.639 V) have been obtained for ZnO, CdS and CZTSe layer thicknesses closed to 0.02 mu m, 0.02 mu m and 1.5 mu m, respectively. Next, to improve on the conventional solar cell performance, three cell structures with different highly P-doped materials as back surface field (BSF) layers, such as P+-CZTSe, P+-Cu2O and P+-CZTS, have been proposed and optimized. In comparison to the conventional cell, devices with BSF layer have shown improvements of all the photovoltaic parameters. The CZTS/CZTSe/CdS/ZnO device has provided the highest performance (PCE = 25.83%, J(sc) = 51.04 mA/cm(2), FF = 78.14% and V-oc = 0.646 V) for ZnO, CdS, CZTSe and P+-CZTS thicknesses closed to 0.02 mu m, 0.02 mu m, 1.5 mu m and 0.4 mu m, respectively. Additionally, the generation rate is no affected by the BSF layer; however, the recombination rate has decreased in the bulk and back surface of the CZTSe absorber. Finally, the insertion of the BSF layer has caused an increase of external quantum efficiency (EQE) up to 94.5% and a slight red shift of absorption in the long-wavelength region near the band edge.

Automated summary

This work focuses on numerical modeling of Cu2ZnSnSe4 (CZTSe) thin film solar cells and proposes an optimal conventional cell structure as well as improved structures with different highly P-doped materials as back surface field (BSF) layers. The insertion of the BSF layer results in enhanced photovoltaic parameters and reduced recombination rate in the CZTSe absorber.