A comprehensive device modeling of organic-inorganic hybrid CH3NH3GeI3 based perovskite solar cell

Abstract

Organic-inorganic lead-based perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have emerged as a promising and rapidly evolving photovoltaic technology in recent years. However, the use of high-toxic lead material in PSC is incompatible with the 12th sustainable development goal and restricts the potential for commercialization. Recently, lead-free methylammonium germanium tri-iodide (CH3NH3GeI3)-based hybrid perovskite solar cells have garnered substantial attention in the field of photovoltaics due to their remarkable combination of high efficiency. The exceptional photovoltaic performance of hybrid CH3NH3GeI3 perovskite solar cells is the central theme of this study. Where emphasis has been given to attaining high power conversion efficiency by adjusting various parameters of the CH3NH3GeI3 perovskite layer using a solar cell capacitance simulator (SCAPS-1D). Moreover, the influence on parameter changes, i.e., thickness, doping concentration, quantum efficiency, and defect density of perovskite, ETL, HTL, HTL/CH3NH3GeI3, and CH3NH3GeI3/ETL layers, has been explored. The unique FTO/ZnO/CH3NH3GeI3/Cu2O/Ni-structured perovskite solar cell demonstrates impressive simulative performance with a VOC of 1.39 V, JSC of 21.93 mA/cm2, a fill factor of 79.82 %, and an efficiency of 24.46 %. CH3NH3GeI3 is a promising candidate that can be employed as a perovskite layer, and if fabricated properly, FTO/ZnO/CH3NH3GeI3/Cu2O/Ni perovskite solar cell has the possibility to be a competitive alternative to conventional silicon-based photovoltaics.

Keywords

• CH3NH3GeI3
• Cu2O
• Defect density
• Perovskite solar cell (PSC)
• SCAPS-1D