Improved efficiency of Cu(In, Ga)Se2 thinfilm solar cells using a buffer layer alternative to CdS. (15th January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hamri, Y.Z.; Bourezig, Y.; Medles, M.; Ameri, M.; Toumi, K.; Ameri, I.; Al-Douri, Y.; Voon, C.H.
• Is Part Of: Solar energy. Volume 178(2019)
• Page Start: 150
• Page End: 156
• Publication Date: 2019-01-15
• Subjects: CIGS -- CdZnS -- Thin film -- OVC -- CBO; Solar energy -- Periodicals; Solar engines -- Periodicals; 621.47
• DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2018.12.023
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0038-092X

Abstract

Highlights: High conversion efficiency, 23.71%. Perform Ga concentration in absorber. Perform Zn concentration in buffer layer. Abstract: The chalcopyrite semiconductor CuInSe2 and its constitutes Ga and/or S [Cu (InGa)Se2 or Cu (InGa)(Se, S)2 ], commonly referred as CIGS have been leading thinfilms for incorporation in high-efficiency photovoltaics. In conventional ZnO-N/i-ZnO/CdS/CIGS solar cells, the traditional CdS buffer is nearly optimum for the commonly used 1.15 eV (CIGS) but less optimal for higher Ga. To overcome this limitation, Cd1-y Zny S is proposed as an alternative buffer layer to replace the standard CdS in CIGS thinfilm solar cells containing an ordered vacancy compound (OVC) layer. Next, the dependence of solar cells performance on the change of Ga and Zn concentrations in absorber and buffer layers, respectively, was investigated using the AMPS-1D software. The results are potential improvement in CIGS efficiency that was obtained with replacement of CdS buffer material by its alternative in one hand, another hand by formation of OVC layer. Lastly, the optimum values of Ga and Zn concentrations were found at 0.7 and 0.6, respectively, leading to a high conversion efficiency of around 23.71%.