International Journal of Advance Research Publication and Reviews

International Journal of Advance Research Publication and Reviews
Peer-Reviewed | Multi-Disciplinary Journal

ISSN: 3049-0103 (O)

Impact Factor: 4.33

NUMERICAL INVESTIGATION OF WS2 AS A BUFFER LAYER IN CIGS SOLAR CELLS USING SCAPS-1D

Author

Muhammad Khadijah Rabiu, Babaji Garba

Abstract

 In this study, the performance of CuInGaSe2 (CIGS) thin-film solar cells was evaluated using tungsten disulfide (WS2) as an alternative to the conventional cadmium sulfide (CdS) buffer layer. Simulations were performed using SCAPS-1D under AM1.5G illumination and a temperature of 300 K. First, the CIGS solar cell with a CdS buffer was validated against a reference, yielding Voc = 0.694 V, Jsc = 34.05 mA/cm2, FF = 78.93%, and PCE = 18.66%. The CdS buffer layer was then replaced with a WS2 buffer, and systematic optimization of its electron affinity, thickness, donor density, and interface defect density was carried out. The optimized WS2 device achieved a PCE of 18.80%, Voc = 0.694 V, Jsc = 34.2 mA/cm2, and FF = 79.2%. WS2 demonstrated greater interface defect tolerance, making it a strong candidate for an environmentally sustainable CIGS solar cell without toxic cadmium.

Keywords

Buffer, CdS, CIGS, Electron affinity, WS2

Full Text:

Download Paper PDF

References

  • Belhadji, Y. (2022). Numerical Modeling of CuInxGa(1-x)Se2/WS2 Thin Solar Cell with an Enhanced PCE. International Journal of Renewable Energy Development, 11(2), 393--401. https://doi.org/10.14710/ijred.2022.38527
  • Bin Rafiq, M. K. S., Amin, N., Alharbi, H. F., Luqman, M., Ayob, A., Alharthi, Y. S., Alharthi, N. H., Bais, B., & Akhtaruzzaman, M. (2020). WS2: A New Window Layer Material for Solar Cell Application. Scientific Reports, 10(1), 1--11. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-57596-5
  • Biswas, S. K., Mim, M. K., & Ahmed, M. M. (2023). Design and Simulation of an Environment-Friendly ZrS2/CuInS2Thin Film Solar Cell Using SCAPS 1D Software. Advances in Materials Science and Engineering, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/8845555
  • Ehemba, A. K., Dieng, M., Diallo, D., & Sambou, G. (2015). Influence of the donor doping density in CdS and Zn(O,S) buffer layers on the external quantum efficiency of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin film solar cell. International Journal of Engineering Trends and Technology, 28(6), 280--286. https://doi.org/10.14445/22315381/ijett-v28p253
  • Hassane, B., Abdennour, G., Benmoussa, D., & Abdelkader, B. (2017). Numerical simulation of CIGS solar cell with ZnS buffer layer. Conf. Automation, Control Engineering and Computer Science (ACECS) Proc. Eng. Technol., 21, 1.
  • Ibrahem, M. A., Lan, T. W., Huang, J. K., Chen, Y. Y., Wei, K. H., Li, L. J., & Chu, C. W. (2013). High quantity and quality few-layers transition metal disulfide nanosheets from wet-milling exfoliation. RSC Advances, 3(32), 13193--13202. https://doi.org/10.1039/c3ra41744a
  • Kafashan, H., & Bahrami, A. (2024). CIGS solar cells using ZrS2 as buffer layer: Numerical simulation. Optik, 298, 171594. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijleo.2023.171594
  • Khoshsirat, N., Md Yunus, N. A., Hamidon, M. N., Shafie, S., & Amin, N. (2015). Analysis of absorber layer properties effect on CIGS solar cell performance using SCAPS. Optik, 126(7--8), 681--686. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijleo.2015.02.037
  • Moustafa, M., Al Zoubi, T., & Yasin, S. (2022). Optoelectronics Simulation of CIGS-Based Solar Cells Using a Cd-Free Nontoxic ZrSxSe2−x as a Novel Buffer Layer. Brazilian Journal of Physics, 52(4), 1--10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13538-022-01146-z
  • Nakamura, M., Yamaguchi, K., Kimoto, Y., Yasaki, Y., Kato, T., & Sugimoto, H. (2019). Cd-Free Cu ( In , Ga )( Se , S ) 2 Thin-Film Solar Cell With Record Efficiency of 23 . 35 %. 1--5. https://doi.org/10.1109/JPHOTOV.2019.2937218
  • Oyedele, S. O., & Aka, B. (2017). Numerical Simulation of Varied Buffer Layer of Solar Cells Based on Cigs. Modeling and Numerical Simulation of Material Science, 07(03), 33--45. https://doi.org/10.4236/mnsms.2017.73003
  • Rasouli, F., & Madani, M. R. (2020). Analysis of CIGS-based thin film tandem solar cell with ZnS buffer layers. Optical and Quantum Electronics, 52(11), 1--10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11082-020-02590-4
  • Sara, B., Baya, Z., & Zineb, B. (2018). Investigation of Cu(In, Ga)Se2 solar cell performance with non-cadmium buffer layer using TCAD-SILVACO. Materials Science- Poland, 36(3), 514--519. https://doi.org/10.2478/msp-2018-0054
  • Sobayel, K., Rahman, K. S., Karim, M. R., Aijaz, M. O., Dar, M. A., Shar, M. A., Misran, H., & Amin, N. (2018). Numerical modeling on prospective buffer layers for tungsten di-sulfide (WS2) solar cells by scaps-1D. Chalcogenide Letters, 15(6), 307--315.
  • Sobayel, K., Shahinuzzaman, M., Amin, N., Karim, M. R., Dar, M. A., Gul, R., Alghoul, M. A., Sopian, K., Hasan, A. K. M., & Akhtaruzzaman, M. (2020). Efficiency enhancement of CIGS solar cell by WS2 as window layer through numerical modelling tool. Solar Energy, 207(July), 479--485. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2020.07.007
  • Sobayel, M. K., Chowdhury, M. S., Hossain, T., Alkhammash, H. I., Islam, S., Shahiduzzaman, M., Akhtaruzzaman, M., Techato, K., & Rashid, M. J. (2021). Efficiency enhancement of CIGS solar cell by cubic silicon carbide as prospective buffer layer. Solar Energy, 224, 271--278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2021.05.093
  • Traoré, B., Ouédraogo, S., Oubda, D., Bawindsom Kébré, M., Zongo, A., Sankara, I., & Zougmoré, F. (2023). Enhancing Strategy CIGS Solar Cell Performance Through a New ZnSe Buffer Layer. Physics and Materials Chemistry, 9(1), 1--7. https://doi.org/10.12691/pmc-9-1-1
Top