A computational study on the energy bandgap engineering in performance enhancement of CdTe thin film solar cells

Ameen M. Ali; K.S. Rahman; Lamya M. Ali; M. Akhtaruzzaman; K. Sopian; S. Radiman; N. Amin

Results in Physics (Jan 2017)

A computational study on the energy bandgap engineering in performance enhancement of CdTe thin film solar cells

Ameen M. Ali,
K.S. Rahman,
Lamya M. Ali,
M. Akhtaruzzaman,
K. Sopian,
S. Radiman,
N. Amin

Affiliations

Ameen M. Ali: Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI), The National University of Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
K.S. Rahman: Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, The National University of Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
Lamya M. Ali: Faculty of Science and Technology, The National University of Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
M. Akhtaruzzaman: Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI), The National University of Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
K. Sopian: Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI), The National University of Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
S. Radiman: Faculty of Science and Technology, The National University of Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
N. Amin: Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI), The National University of Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia; Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, The National University of Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia; Corresponding author at: Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI), The National University of Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 7
pp. 1066 – 1072

Abstract

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In this study, photovoltaic properties of CdTe thin film in the configuration of n-SnO2/n-CdS/p-CdTe/p-CdTe:Te/metal have been studied by numerical simulation software named “Analysis of Microelectronic and Photonic Structure” (AMPS-1D). A modified structure for CdTe thin film solar cell has been proposed by numerical analysis with the insertion of a back contact buffer layer (CdTe:Te). This layer can serve as a barrier that will decelerate the copper diffusion in CdTe solar cell. Four estimated energy bandgap relations versus the Tellurium (Te) concentrations and the (CdTe:Te) layer thickness have been examined thoroughly during simulation. Correlation between energy bandgap with the CdTe thin film solar cell performance has also been established. Keywords: Numerical modelling, CdTe thin film, Solar cell, AMPS-1D, Bandgap

Published in Results in Physics

ISSN: 2211-3797 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Science: Physics
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/results-in-physics/

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