Investigating the effect of non-ideal conditions on the performance of a planar CH3NH3PbI3-based perovskite solar cell through SCAPS-1D simulation

The difference between the simulation and experimental results of solar cells has always been challenging for researchers. Some simplifying assumptions in the simulation programs are the most common reason for this content. However, in some simulation programs, utilizing some nonidealities, the simulated solar cell can approach real conditions. In the present study, we attempted to simulate the conventional FTO/TiO2/ CH3NH3PbI3/Spiro-OMeTAD/Au perovskite solar cell by considering resistance paths, reflection in front contact (FTO), and recombination (radiative and Auger) through SCAPS-1D software. For this, the effect of each of these nonidealities was investigated step by step. The efficiency results of the studied solar cell represented significant differences between the efficiency of the device before and after the application of these conditions that was from 19.26% to 8.40%. This significant decrement is mainly due to the reflection and radiative recombination. Besides, to optimize each of the active layers' essential properties, the effect of mentioned parameters, including thickness and doping density, was investigated in terms of efficiency and recombination plots. The novelty of this research was in employing the non-ideal conditions in the simulation phase and approximating them to the reported experimental works' outcomes. Moreover, utilizing the recombination plots helped a lot in choosing the optimum layer property, e.g., doping density selection. Finally, after optimizing all the properties mentioned above, the efficiency was enhanced by about 4% and reached PCE 1/4 12.83%. The general results represent that despite the significant reduction in the cell performance, the simulated cell is closer to the experimental conditions and offers a better model of a solar cell.

Automated summary

The difference between simulation and experimental results of solar cells is mainly due to simplifications in simulation programs. By considering nonidealities in simulation, such as reflection and recombination, the simulated solar cell can better approximate real conditions and offer a more accurate model of a solar cell.