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Performance Analysis for SnS- and Sn2S3-Based Back Surface Field CZTSSe Solar Cell: A Simulation Study

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Abstract

CZTSSe-based solar cell structures have shown remarkable properties in terms of their low cost, greater stability, high absorption coefficient, and relatively inexpensive production process. However, their maximum achieved values of power conversion efficiency remain low, close to 12.6%. This is mainly due to the problem of back surface carrier recombination. In this paper, we present the results of studies carried out using the SCAPS-1D tool to test the viability of deploying SnS (tin sulphide) and Sn2S3 (tin(IV) sulphide) materials as a back surface field (BSF) layer, due to their inherent advantage of having a similar material composition as CZTSSe. A detailed analysis is carried out on CZTSSe and BSF layer doping variation and CZTSSe/BSF interface defect density to optimize the photovoltaic (PV) performance of the devices. The results reflect an increase in the efficiency from 12.57% to 16.34% (with SnS BSF) and 17.04% (with Sn2S3 BSF). The cell with the SnS BSF delivers an open-circuit voltage (VOC) of 0.59V, a short-circuit current density (JSC) of 37.74 mA/cm2, and a fill factor (FF) of 73.36%, while the device with the Sn2S3 BSF delivers VOC of 0.59V, JSC of 37.68 mA/cm2 and FF of 76.46%. The results reported in this study could open a pathway to realize high-efficiency CZTSSe solar cell structures in the future.

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The data that support the findings of this study shall be made available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dr. Marc Burgelman for providing the SCAPS-1D simulator and Chitkara University for providing the necessary support to carry out this work. Author Rahul Pandey is grateful to SERB, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India for the Start-up Research Grant (SRG) with file number: SRG/2019/000941.

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  1. VLSI Centre of Excellence, Chitkara University Institute of Engineering and Technology, Chitkara University, Rajpura, Punjab, India

    Shivani Gohri, Jaya Madan, Rahul Pandey & Rajnish Sharma

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  1. Shivani Gohri
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  2. Jaya Madan
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Correspondence to Jaya Madan, Rahul Pandey or Rajnish Sharma.

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Gohri, S., Madan, J., Pandey, R. et al. Performance Analysis for SnS- and Sn2S3-Based Back Surface Field CZTSSe Solar Cell: A Simulation Study. J. Electron. Mater. 50, 6318–6328 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-021-09152-8

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