Performance simulation of solar cell based on AZO/CdTe heterostructure by SCAPS 1D software

Simulation and analysis of solar cells based on the heterojunction of zinc oxide doped with aluminum (AZO) and cadmium telluride (CdTe) with the structure (Al/AZO/CdTe/NiO/Ni) using the Simulator of the capacitance of solar cells - 1 dimension (SCAPS-1D) has been presented in this paper. AZO is used as a window layer and Nickel oxide (NiO) has been introduced as a hole transport layer (HTL). Through the software, the effect of thickness, absorber (CdTe), and window (AZO) layers carrier concentration, operating temperature, and resistances (series and shunt) have been studied. Simulation results show that the solar cell performance can be greatly improved by adjusting the layer's thickness and carrier concentration, obtaining optimal values of 10 nm and 1018cm−3 for the AZO layer, while for the CdTe layer they were 2 μm and 1015cm−3. The optimum series and shunt resistances are in the range of 1–3 Ωcm2 and 1800–2200 Ωcm2 respectively. A maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 14.2% is achieved with an open circuit voltage (Voc) of 0.74 V, short circuit current density (Jsc) of 26.15 mA/cm2 and a fill factor (FF) of 72.83%, this shows AZO potential to be considered as an interesting material to replace CdS window layer.