Performance Optimization Of Tin Halide Perovskite Solar Cells Via Numerical Simulation

Abstract

Organic-inorganic hybrid perovskite solar cells have attracted great attention in the photovoltaic research community in recent years due to its ease of processing, low cost of production, superb light-harvesting characteristics, and relatively high efficiency which make it more preferable over other existing solar cell materials. Lead-based perovskites (CH3NH3PbX3, X= Cl, I, Br) solar cells have recently attained a high efficiency of ~19.3% which far surpasses the efficiencies of most thin film and organic solar cells. Therefore, the presence of lead, which is a toxic material in these solar cells poses serious challenge to our health and environment. ‘Tin’ is non-toxic and stands as a replacement to ‘lead’ for commercial purposes. Thus, there is a drive to use non-toxic materials such as tin-based perovskites. Unfortunately, the tin-based perovskite solar cells recently produced have low efficiencies (< 6.4% ). In order to improve the performance of tin-based perovskite solar cells, a numerical simulation was done. First, known experimental results were reproduced. Based on the work reproduced we developed a new configuration with a reduced acceptor doping concentration of the absorber layer which showed an increase in efficiency > 18%. A device simulator, the Solar Cell Capacitance Simulator (SCAPS) was used to solve the poisson and hole and electron continuity equations in order to obtain information concerning the device properties of the tin-based perovskite (CH3NH3SnI3) solar cells.