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In this paper, we focus on optimizing the solar performance of a CZTSSe-based solar cell by adjusting the zinc and sulfur concentrations in the CdZnS buffer layer and the quinary absorber CZTSSe. The state-of-the-art work is to combine the ZnS and CdS binaries into CdZnS ternary used as a buffer layer in both CZTS- and CZTSSe-based solar cells. An overall study of its properties is carried out taking into account the strain present at the heterointerface, defect density, bandgap energy and the interface state density. As a result, the highest efficiency η = 14.59% was achieved with a sulfur content of 0.55 and a zinc content of 0.70 to bandgap energies of 1.25 and 3.12 eV for CZTSSe and CdZnS materials, respectively. Our simulation is validated by the reproducibility of solar cell performance under the same conditions, and an enhancement of the conversion efficiency of about Δη = 5.55% will be achieved when the CdS layer is replaced by CdZnS in the ZnO/CdS/CZTSSe/Mo/Glass solar device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This effort is founded on the modeling and simulation of the GaAsPN/GaP quantum dot (QD) solar cell. This quaternary alloy is one of the III‐V semiconductors, which gained importance in the recent years for optoelectronic applications. This importance comes from the fact that the quaternary GaAsPN can be a well‐grown lattice matched to GaP and Si substrates and to the bandgap that can be decreased drastically with the incorporation of nitrogen and arsenic into GaP, improving consequently the absorption and the wavelengths near the red part. These qualities make GaAsPN a good candidate for the growth on the Si substrate and low‐cost solar cell fabrication. The optical properties of GaAsPN/GaP QDs, such as strain, critical thickness, bandgap energy, the external quantum efficiency, and absorption coefficient, have been reported. The heterostructures consist of GaAs0.18P0.814N0.006 QDs separated by GaP barrier layers. The width and thickness of QDs are about 5 and 5 nm, respectively. Our results have been shown that 20 GaAs0.18P0.814N0.006/GaP QD layers produce a short‐circuit current of about 3.55 mA/cm2 and an efficiency of about 7.5%. In addition, we will be able to extend the absorption edge of a GaP solar cell from 0.48 μm to 0.5 μm for the same QD number layers inserted. The temperature effect on efficiency is considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on studying and simulating a GaAs1-xPx/Si1-yGey/Ge triple-junction solar cell structure. First, the strain and the bandgap energy associated to the SiGe layer have been studied. The optimal germanium concentration is 0.88 with a strain around 0.45%. Then, the phosphor concentration effect on the strain and the bandgap energy of the upper layer GaAs1-xPx/Si0.12Ge0.88 has been optimized. At room temperature, the optimal output parameter reach Jsc=34.41mA/cm², Voc=1.27V, FF=88.42% and =38.45% for an absorber thickness of 4.5µm and x=0.47, with a strain that doesn't exceed 1.5%. This study has enabled us to design a high-efficiency, low cost 3J solar cell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the simulation and optimization of electrical and optical properties such as current density-voltage (J-V ) , external quantum efficiency (EQE) and the photoluminescence spectra (PL) of InSb/GaAs quantum dot solar cell (QDSC). The InSb QDs have been inserted in the intrinsic region of p-i-n GaAs solar cell. Our results have been shown that 30 InSb/GaAs QD layers provide a relative enhancement of 22.35% and 29.30% of the short-circuit current and the efficiency, respectively. With the same number of the QD layers, the absorption range edge of low energy photons has been extended from 900 to 1400 nm. The electrical features obtained for InSb/GaAs QDSC have been compared with those obtained for InAs/GaAs QDSC in goal to show the better structure. The PL spectra has been also compared with experimental result for the same structure. Moreover, the QDSC has been optimized with respect to the thickness of QDs. The optimal conversion efficiency of 10 QD layers is improved from 14.85% to 18.30% by increasing the thickness of the QDs from 5 nm to 20 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the design and simulation of an GaInP single junction solar cell are presented. The work focuses mainly on the optimization of the PN junction thicknesses of n-base and pemitter cell layers in order to improve the cell conversion efficiency. Besides this optimization, the layers of the cell window AlGaInP and an added buffer AlGaAs were also optimized in term of doping and thicknesses using Atlas tool of SILVACO TCAD. The cell is simulated under the conditions of 1 sun and AM1.5G solar spectrum at 25°C. The simulated GaInP solar cell demonstrates an efficiency (η) of 22.42%. The cell shows different electrical behaviors in terms of short circuit current density (Jsc), open circuit voltage (V∝), fill factor (FF), and external quantum efficiency (EQE). The obtained results are compared with those reported in the literature. Simulation results of the cell are: a Jsc of 18.35 mA/cm2, V∝ of 1.41 V and FF of 86.81% with the corresponding n-base layer and pemitter layer thickness of 0.410 µm and 0.174 µm respectively and the total device thickness of 0.65 µm. According to these results, the proposed cell demonstrates an improvement in the efficiency and a reduction of the used GaInP material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the CuInGaSe 2 based solar cell optimization has been established. We have simulated the structural strain effect. The effect of gallium concentration on the optical properties and the quantum external efficiency EQE was investigated. We also optimized the concentration x at low defect densities. The optimal gallium concentration is 0.30. We obtained an efficiency of the CuIn 0.70 Ga 0.30 Se 2 absorber solar cell around 24% with a strain ɛ = 0.64% and material defects densities equal to 1.2x1015cm−3. This work has been validated by theoretical and experimental studies. This study allows us to find a compromise between concentration x and defect concentrations in order to improve the performance and high efficiency of the solar cell. • The effect of structural deformation has been studied and simulated. • The effect of gallium on the optical properties and EQE was investigated. • We optimized the x concentration at low defect concentrations. • An efficiency of the solar cell which is equal to 24% with ɛ = 0.6% was obtained. • This work is validated by a theoretical and experimental study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the different optical properties of the ZnSnN 2 absorber layer such as absorption, reflection and transmission coefficients. The effects of the ZnSnN 2 absorber layer thickness, temperature,and defect density on electrical parameters such as short circuit current density, open circuit voltage, fill factor and efficiency have also been studied in detail. These factors play an important role in the performance of the ZnO/CdS/ZnSnN 2 /Si/Mo structure. The highest efficiency of about 23.32 % is achieved without defects in the ZnSnN 2 absorber layer, under the 1-sun AM1.5 solar spectrum, by applying the flat band condition and considering the strain values of 0.37 % (ZnSnN 2 /Cds) and 7.17 % (ZnSnN 2 /Si). In addition to high efficiency, the ZnSnN 2 has a high absorption coefficient. This device will play a crucial role in optoelectronic applications. This structure is a promising candidate for low cost and high efficiency photovoltaic technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A combination of a Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS) and Silicon (Si) layer has been recognized as an excellent choice for producing heterojunction based solar cells with improved efficiency and low cost processing techniques. The quaternary compound CIGS and silicon (Si) regions exhibit a lattice mismatch of about 5%, which induces a strain and impacts the electronic characteristics of the CIGS/Si heterojunction solar cell. A new viewpoint suggests the integration of a silicon germanium (Si 1-y Ge y) layer in the CIGS/Si region to reduce the impact of lattice mismatch. The objective of this study is to investigate how different gallium and germanium concentrations (x Ga and y Ge) affect the following factors: lattice mismatch (ε) , critical thickness (h c) and absorption coefficient (α)of CIGS/SiGe based solar cells. It also aims to analyze how these concentrations impact the primary parameters used to evaluate solar cell performance such as external quantum efficiency, short circuit current density, fill factor, open circuit voltage and conversion efficiency. The simulation results agree well with the existing theoretical and experimental literature data, confirming the suitability of the physical characteristics employed in this numerical study. By tuning the concentrations of Gallium and Germanium, it is feasible to attain an efficiency of 24% owing to the lattice compensation phenomenon in Si 1-y Ge y layers. These findings hold significant implications for the development and advancement of solar cell technology, as well as for enhancing their conversion efficiency and commercialization. • A strain-compensated CIGS/Si structure was achieved by adding SiGe layer. • The incorporation of SiGe improves the absorbance and EQE of the CIGS solar cell. • The improvement of the solar performances of the CIGS is ensured by the SiGe layer. • Optimizing Ga, Ge concentrations makes it possible to achieve an efficiency of 24%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrical properties of InAsP/Si quantum dot solar cell (QDSC) are numerically studied and analyzed in this paper. Many effects like number of quantum dot (QD) layers inserted and Arsenic content of InAs x P 1-x on photovoltaic properties such as current density-voltage J-V and the external quantum efficiency (EQE) are investigated. Our results have been shown that the optimal Arsenic content is 0.6. With 30 InAsP/Si QDs layers, relative enhancements of about 7% and 6.70% of short-circuit current and efficiency are achieved, respectively. Otherwise, the absorption range edge of low energy photons was extended from 1120 to 1200 nm. This reveals that introduction of QDs in the intrinsic region of p -i- n Silicon (Si) solar cell enhances significantly the device characteristics beyond what has been reported for conventional semiconductor-based solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we experimentally elaborated Copper- and Indium-doped Zinc Oxide (Cu: ZnO and In: ZnO) thin films at different temperatures (T 1 = 480 °C and T 2 = 520 °C), the doping ratio were varied between 0% and 8%. Using a low cost solution-based chemical deposition, we have developed a ZnO thin film deposition process that offers fine-control of the surface morphology. It consists in spraying a volatile compound of the material to be deposited on a substrate maintained at high temperature to cause a chemical reaction in order to form at least one solid product. Therefore, the proposed ZnO doped layer is highly promising for applications for the next-generation solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]