Molecules (May 2021)

Numerical Investigation of Graphene as a Back Surface Field Layer on the Performance of Cadmium Telluride Solar Cell

  • Devendra KC,
  • Deb Kumar Shah,
  • M. Shaheer Akhtar,
  • Mira Park,
  • Chong Yeal Kim,
  • O-Bong Yang,
  • Bishweshwar Pant

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26113275
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 26, no. 11
p. 3275

Abstract

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This paper numerically explores the possibility of ultrathin layering and high efficiency of graphene as a back surface field (BSF) based on a CdTe solar cell by Personal computer one-dimensional (PC1D) simulation. CdTe solar cells have been characterized and studied by varying the carrier lifetime, doping concentration, thickness, and bandgap of the graphene layer. With simulation results, the highest short-circuit current (Isc = 2.09 A), power conversion efficiency (η = 15%), and quantum efficiency (QE~85%) were achieved at a carrier lifetime of 1 × 103 μs and a doping concentration of 1 × 1017 cm−3 of graphene as a BSF layer-based CdTe solar cell. The thickness of the graphene BSF layer (1 μm) was proven the ultrathin, optimal, and obtainable for the fabrication of high-performance CdTe solar cells, confirming the suitability of graphene material as a BSF. This simulation confirmed that a CdTe solar cell with the proposed graphene as the BSF layer might be highly efficient with optimized parameters for fabrication.

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