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The efficiency of PV systems can be improved by accurate estimation of PV parameters. Parameter estimation of PV cells and modules is a challenging task as it requires accurate operation of PV cells and modules followed by an optimization tool that estimates their associated parameters. Mostly, population-based optimization tools are utilized for PV parameter estimation problems due to their computational intelligent behavior. However, most of them suffer from premature convergence problems, high computational burden, and often fall into local optimum solution. To mitigate these limitations, this paper presents an improved variant of particle swarm optimization (PSO) aiming to reduce shortcomings offered by conventional PSO for estimation of PV parameters. PSO is improved by introducing two strategies to control inertia weight and acceleration coefficients. At first, a sine chaotic inertia weight strategy is employed to attain an appropriate balance between local and global search. Afterward, a tangent chaotic strategy is utilized to guide acceleration coefficients in search of an optimal solution. The proposed algorithm is utilized to estimate the parameters of the PWP201 PV module, RTC France solar cell, and a JKM330P-72 PV module-based practical system. The obtained results indicate that the proposed technique avoids premature convergence and local optima stagnation of conventional PSO. Moreover, a comparison of obtained results with techniques available in the literature proves that the proposed methodology is an efficient, effective, and optimal tool to estimate PV modules and cells' parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The influence of Ar:O 2 gas flow on O 2 concentration in WO X film is investigated. • O 2 concentration also affects the WO X film's thickness. • The impact of O 2 concentration on the film's optical properties is discussed. • WO X film is suitable as an electron transport layer for photovoltaic applications. • 3D electromagnetic simulations investigate optics of perovskite solar cells. Tungsten oxide (WO x) has been widely investigated due to mainly its optoelectronic properties. This study primarily aimed to examine the influence of oxygen concentration on the structural and optical properties of WO x films. Herein, WO x thin films have been prepared by reactive sputtering method at low power (50 W) while controlling the Ar:O 2 gas flow rate to vary oxygen concentration. Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis reveals that the oxygen concentration depends on the gas flow rate. Such oxygen concentration changes affect the film's thickness, confirmed by the field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). Atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis ensures the dependency of surface roughness of the films on the oxygen concentration. The developed films exhibit the amorphous state as validated by X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis. The Ultraviolet–Visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy measurement was also conducted to determine transmittance and absorbance of the film, which further allows realizing necessary optical parameters, such as absorption coefficient, skin depth, energy bandgap, refractive index, extinction coefficient, etc. The oxygen concentration-dependent optical parameters are investigated in the spectral range of UV to near-infrared regions to ensure the use of WO x for optoelectronic device applications. Finally, we considered the optimized WO x film as a potential electron transport layer (ETL) to realize an efficient perovskite solar cell. The optics and optimization of this solar cell were studied by finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations. The investigation allows us to calculate the maximum quantum efficiency (QE) and short-circuit current density (J SC) of ~90% and 22.1 mA/cm2, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A two-steps non-hydrazine synthesis technique was used to fabricate CZTSe thin film. • Growth of high-quality CZTSe thin film with monoethanolamine and ethanol mixture solvent was investigated. • Optical and electrical characterisations were conducted to confirm the high-quality CZTSe thin film. • SCAPS-1D and 3D FDTD numerical simulations were carried out to investigate the electrical effects and optics of the device. • Optimised CZTSe solar cell estimates a conversion efficiency of 18.5%. This article reports on Cu 2 ZnSnSe 4 (CZTSe) thin film preparation via a nonhydrazine, nonpyridine and environmentally friendly low-cost solution process method. CZTSe fabrication through a solution-based process has not yet been suitably demonstrated given the impediments to addressing the presence of selenium in solutions. In this study, we introduced a two-step CZTSe fabrication method that used monoethanolamine as the chelating agent/co-solvent and ethanol as the main solvent. Selenization was then conducted. In this process, we successfully avoided the use of hydrazine to synthesise CZTSe thin films. Material characterisations (e.g. UV–VIS–NIR, scanning electron microscopy, electron dispersive spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy) confirmed the high quality of the deposited thin films. The deposited CZTSe thin film showed high crystallinity without carbon residues, indicating its potential application as a photovoltaic absorber. Hence, we investigated the photovoltaic parameters of the CZTSe-based solar cells on the basis of the deposited thin film's optoelectronic properties. We utilised Solar Cell Capacitance Simulator to examine the electrical effects of CZTSe solar cells and used three-dimensional finite-difference time-domain optical simulations to investigate the optics of the solar cells. We estimated that the realistic power conversion efficiency of the CZTSe solar cells could reach 18.5% with a short-circuit current density of 30 mA/cm2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]