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

摘要

Highlights ? Photovoltaic properties of CdTe solar cell with the structure of (n-SnO2-CdS/p-CdTe/p-CdTe:Te/metal) have been studied by numerical simulation software named AMPS-1D. ? A modified structure has been proposed with the insertion of a back contact buffer layer (CdTe:Te) barrier that will reduce the copper diffusion in CdTe solar cell. ? Four estimated energy bandgap relations versus the Tellurium (Te) concentrations as well as the (CdTe:Te) layer thickness have been examined systematically in simulation. ? Correlation between energy bandgap with the CdTe thin film solar cell performance has also been established. Abstract In this study, photovoltaic properties of CdTe thin film in the configuration of n-SnO 2 -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.