Addressing the impact of rear surface passivation mechanisms on ultra-thin Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cell performances using SCAPS 1-D model

• We present a (1-D) SCAPS device model to address the following: (i) the surface passivation mechanisms (i.e.field-effect and chemical), (ii) their impact on the CIGS solar cell performance for varying CIGS absorberthickness, (iii) the importance of fixed charge type (+/−) and densities of fixed and interface trap charges, and(iv) the reasons for discrete gains in the experimental cell efficiencies (previously reported) for varying CIGSabsorber thickness. First, to obtain a reliable device model, the proposed set of parameters is validated for bothfield-effect (due to fixed charges) and chemical passivation (due to interface traps) using a simple M-I-S teststructure and experimentally extracted values (previously reported) into the SCAPS simulator. Next, we providefigures of merits without any significant loss in the solar cell performances for minimum net −Qf and maximumacceptable limit for Dit, found to be ∼5 × 1012 cm−2 and ∼1 × 1013 cm−2 eV−1 respectively. We next showthat the influence of negative fixed charges in the rear passivation layer (i.e. field-effect passivation) is morepredominant than that of the positive fixed charges (i.e. counter-field effect) especially while considering ultrathin(<0.5 μm) absorber layers. Furthermore, we show the importance of rear reflectance on the short-circuitphotocurrent densities while scaling down the CIGS absorber layers below 0.5 μm under interface chemical andfield-effect passivation mechanisms. Finally, we provide the optimal rear passivation layer parameters for efficienciesgreater than 20% with ultra-thin CIGS absorber thickness (<0.5 μm). Based on these simulation results,we confirm that a negatively charged rear surface passivation with nano-point contact approach is efficient forthe enhancement of cell performances, especially while scaling down the absorber thickness below 0.5 μm.

Subject headings

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Elektroteknik och elektronik -- Annan elektroteknik och elektronik (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Information Engineering -- Other Electrical Engineering, Electronic Engineering, Information Engineering (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Physics with specialization in Global Energy Resources

Fysik med inriktning mot globala energiresurser

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)