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Optimizing Structures Based on Chalcopyrite Materials for Photovoltaic Applications

Received: 26 May 2022    Accepted: 27 June 2022    Published: 12 July 2022
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Abstract

In this work we study the importance of optimizing the parameters of photoconductive layers to improve the efficiency of a photovoltaic cell. We compare the evolution of the performance of solar cells based on chalcopyrite materials by considering a non-decreasing band gap structure named model (a) based on the structure ZnO(n+)/CdS(n)/CuInSe2(p)/CuInS2(p+) and a decreasing band gap structure named model (b) based on the structure ZnO(n+)/CdS(n)/CuInS2(p)/CuInSe2(p+). The two structures are composed of 4 layers named respectively region 1, region 2, region 3 (base), region 4 (substrate); between regions 2 and 3 is located the space charge region (SCR) where exists a high electric field. The calculation of the external quantum efficiency of the cell and the short-circuit photocurrent density by numerical calculation are established by using the continuity equation of charge carriers and parameters such as the absorption coefficient, diffusion length which models the purity of the material, recombination velocities at the surface and at the interface which models their states, the thicknesses of the different layers, the solar irradiation. The results obtained applied to models (a) and (b), are presented in the form of tables and curves widely analyzed and commented. Considering first the same standard parameters, the model (a) whose absorption threshold is localized in the space charge region and the base, gives the best performance compared to model (b) whose absorption threshold is localized in the substrate. However, the optimization of the parameters, shows an improvement of the performances of the two models but above all a great evolution of the performances of the model (b) which external quantum efficiency becomes appreciably equal to that of the model (a). The short-circuit photocurrent density for solar spectra (AM0, AM1, AM1.5) evolves from (44.92 mA.cm-2; 33.031 mA.cm-2; 30.179 mA.cm-2) → (48.119 mA.cm-2; 35.155 mA.cm-2; 32.188 mA.cm-2) for the model (a), and evolves from (24.525 mA.cm-2; 19.309 mA.cm-2; 17.507 mA.cm-2) → (46.841 mA.cm-2; 34.303 mA.cm-2; 31.388 mA.cm-2) for the model (b).

Published in American Journal of Energy Engineering (Volume 10, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajee.20221003.11
Page(s) 53-67
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Solar Cell, Chalcopyrite Materials, Structure Parameter Optimization, Efficiency

References
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    El Hadji Mamadou Keita, Fallou Mbaye, Bachirou Ndiaye, Chamsdine Sow, Cheikh Sene, et al. (2022). Optimizing Structures Based on Chalcopyrite Materials for Photovoltaic Applications. American Journal of Energy Engineering, 10(3), 53-67. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajee.20221003.11

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    El Hadji Mamadou Keita; Fallou Mbaye; Bachirou Ndiaye; Chamsdine Sow; Cheikh Sene, et al. Optimizing Structures Based on Chalcopyrite Materials for Photovoltaic Applications. Am. J. Energy Eng. 2022, 10(3), 53-67. doi: 10.11648/j.ajee.20221003.11

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    AMA Style

    El Hadji Mamadou Keita, Fallou Mbaye, Bachirou Ndiaye, Chamsdine Sow, Cheikh Sene, et al. Optimizing Structures Based on Chalcopyrite Materials for Photovoltaic Applications. Am J Energy Eng. 2022;10(3):53-67. doi: 10.11648/j.ajee.20221003.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajee.20221003.11,
      author = {El Hadji Mamadou Keita and Fallou Mbaye and Bachirou Ndiaye and Chamsdine Sow and Cheikh Sene and Babacar Mbow},
      title = {Optimizing Structures Based on Chalcopyrite Materials for Photovoltaic Applications},
      journal = {American Journal of Energy Engineering},
      volume = {10},
      number = {3},
      pages = {53-67},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajee.20221003.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajee.20221003.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajee.20221003.11},
      abstract = {In this work we study the importance of optimizing the parameters of photoconductive layers to improve the efficiency of a photovoltaic cell. We compare the evolution of the performance of solar cells based on chalcopyrite materials by considering a non-decreasing band gap structure named model (a) based on the structure ZnO(n+)/CdS(n)/CuInSe2(p)/CuInS2(p+) and a decreasing band gap structure named model (b) based on the structure ZnO(n+)/CdS(n)/CuInS2(p)/CuInSe2(p+). The two structures are composed of 4 layers named respectively region 1, region 2, region 3 (base), region 4 (substrate); between regions 2 and 3 is located the space charge region (SCR) where exists a high electric field. The calculation of the external quantum efficiency of the cell and the short-circuit photocurrent density by numerical calculation are established by using the continuity equation of charge carriers and parameters such as the absorption coefficient, diffusion length which models the purity of the material, recombination velocities at the surface and at the interface which models their states, the thicknesses of the different layers, the solar irradiation. The results obtained applied to models (a) and (b), are presented in the form of tables and curves widely analyzed and commented. Considering first the same standard parameters, the model (a) whose absorption threshold is localized in the space charge region and the base, gives the best performance compared to model (b) whose absorption threshold is localized in the substrate. However, the optimization of the parameters, shows an improvement of the performances of the two models but above all a great evolution of the performances of the model (b) which external quantum efficiency becomes appreciably equal to that of the model (a). The short-circuit photocurrent density for solar spectra (AM0, AM1, AM1.5) evolves from (44.92 mA.cm-2; 33.031 mA.cm-2; 30.179 mA.cm-2) → (48.119 mA.cm-2; 35.155 mA.cm-2; 32.188 mA.cm-2) for the model (a), and evolves from (24.525 mA.cm-2; 19.309 mA.cm-2; 17.507 mA.cm-2) → (46.841 mA.cm-2; 34.303 mA.cm-2; 31.388 mA.cm-2) for the model (b).},
     year = {2022}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Optimizing Structures Based on Chalcopyrite Materials for Photovoltaic Applications
    AU  - El Hadji Mamadou Keita
    AU  - Fallou Mbaye
    AU  - Bachirou Ndiaye
    AU  - Chamsdine Sow
    AU  - Cheikh Sene
    AU  - Babacar Mbow
    Y1  - 2022/07/12
    PY  - 2022
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajee.20221003.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajee.20221003.11
    T2  - American Journal of Energy Engineering
    JF  - American Journal of Energy Engineering
    JO  - American Journal of Energy Engineering
    SP  - 53
    EP  - 67
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2329-163X
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajee.20221003.11
    AB  - In this work we study the importance of optimizing the parameters of photoconductive layers to improve the efficiency of a photovoltaic cell. We compare the evolution of the performance of solar cells based on chalcopyrite materials by considering a non-decreasing band gap structure named model (a) based on the structure ZnO(n+)/CdS(n)/CuInSe2(p)/CuInS2(p+) and a decreasing band gap structure named model (b) based on the structure ZnO(n+)/CdS(n)/CuInS2(p)/CuInSe2(p+). The two structures are composed of 4 layers named respectively region 1, region 2, region 3 (base), region 4 (substrate); between regions 2 and 3 is located the space charge region (SCR) where exists a high electric field. The calculation of the external quantum efficiency of the cell and the short-circuit photocurrent density by numerical calculation are established by using the continuity equation of charge carriers and parameters such as the absorption coefficient, diffusion length which models the purity of the material, recombination velocities at the surface and at the interface which models their states, the thicknesses of the different layers, the solar irradiation. The results obtained applied to models (a) and (b), are presented in the form of tables and curves widely analyzed and commented. Considering first the same standard parameters, the model (a) whose absorption threshold is localized in the space charge region and the base, gives the best performance compared to model (b) whose absorption threshold is localized in the substrate. However, the optimization of the parameters, shows an improvement of the performances of the two models but above all a great evolution of the performances of the model (b) which external quantum efficiency becomes appreciably equal to that of the model (a). The short-circuit photocurrent density for solar spectra (AM0, AM1, AM1.5) evolves from (44.92 mA.cm-2; 33.031 mA.cm-2; 30.179 mA.cm-2) → (48.119 mA.cm-2; 35.155 mA.cm-2; 32.188 mA.cm-2) for the model (a), and evolves from (24.525 mA.cm-2; 19.309 mA.cm-2; 17.507 mA.cm-2) → (46.841 mA.cm-2; 34.303 mA.cm-2; 31.388 mA.cm-2) for the model (b).
    VL  - 10
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Physics Department, Faculty of Science and Technology, University Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, Senegal

  • Physics Department, Faculty of Science and Technology, University Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, Senegal

  • Physics Department, Faculty of Science and Technology, University Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, Senegal

  • Physics Department, Faculty of Science and Technology, University Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, Senegal

  • Physics Department, Faculty of Science and Technology, University Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, Senegal

  • Physics Department, Faculty of Science and Technology, University Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, Senegal

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