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The lead-free CH3NH3SnI3 perovskite is essential for absorbing light in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). In a photovoltaic (PV) device setup of FTO/STO/CH3NH3SnI3/Spiro-OMeTAD/Au, it demonstrates excellent PV performance. This device includes sulfur-doped tin oxide (STO) for the layer of electron transport (ETL), CH3NH3SnI3 as the absorber, and the hole transport layer (HTL) is Spiro-OMeTAD. The upper and back contacts consist of fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) and gold (Au), connecting these layers. Several parameters were estimated using the Solar Cell Capacitance Simulator (SCAPS-1D) program, including the thickness, acceptor and donor densities, series and shunt resistances, and temperature. The absorber, HTL, ETL, and FTO thicknesses were set at 1000 ​nm, 100 ​nm, 150 ​nm, and 50 ​nm, respectively, to find the perfect configuration. Densities of acceptors and donors were maintained at 1019 ​cm−3, 2.0 ​× ​1019 ​cm−3, 2.0 ​× ​1018 ​cm−3, and 1018 ​cm−3 for the absorber, HTL, ETL, and FTO, respectively, at an operating temperature of 300K. The device configuration exhibited reduced series resistance and increased shunt resistance, optimized with a back contact metal of Au. The idealized model demonstrated significant PV execution characteristics, including 1.117 ​V for open-circuit voltage (VOC), 28.88 ​mA/cm2 for short-circuit current density (JSC), 88.47 ​% for fill factor (FF), and 28.55 ​% for power conversion efficiency (PCE) under the AM1.5G spectrum. Additionally, the device displayed an average quantum efficiency (QE) of approximately 88.30 ​% at visible light wavelengths.

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) based on organic–inorganic metal halide perovskites are a recent ground-breaking advancement in attaining power conversion efficiencies exceeding 21%. However, the toxicity of lead in these PSCs could be a deterrent for large-scale development due to the environmental concerns. The methylammonium tin triiodide (CH3NH3SnI3) perovskite has been successfully employed in lead-free PSCs as an alternative to CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite. The PSCs have mostly been realized with a highly expensive spiro-OMeTAD hole-transporting material (HTM). Herein, copper thiocyanate (CuSCN) was implemented as a HTM instead of the highly expensive spiro-OMeTAD counterpart. The results show that CuSCN is a promising HTM for the lead-free CH3NH3SnI3-based PSCs. We investigated and optimized the parameters of the lead-free CH3NH3SnI3-based PSCs with the CuSCN HTM. The simulated device shows a power conversion efficiency exceeding 26% under AM 1.5G illumination and an absorption onset up to 1080 nm. The reported CH3NH3SnI3-based PSCs provide a viable path to the realization of environmentally benign, low-cost, and high-efficiency PSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) based on organic-inorganic metal halide perovskites are a recent ground-breaking advancement in attaining power conversion efficiencies exceeding 21%. However, the toxicity of lead in these PSCs could be a deterrent for large-scale development due to the environmental concerns. The methylammonium tin triiodide (CH3NH3SnI3) perovskite has been successfully employed in lead-free PSCs as an alternative to CH3NH3PbI3 perovskite. The PSCs have mostly been realized with a highly expensive spiro-OMeTAD hole-transporting material (HTM). Herein, copper thiocyanate (CuSCN) was implemented as a HTM instead of the highly expensive spiro-OMeTAD counterpart. The results show that CuSCN is a promising HTM for the lead-free CH3NH3SnI3-based PSCs. We investigated and optimized the parameters of the lead-free CH3NH3SnI3-based PSCs with the CuSCN HTM. The simulated device shows a power conversion efficiency exceeding 26% under AM 1.5G illumination and an absorption onset up to 1080 nm. The reported CH3NH3SnI3-based PSCs provide a viable path to the realization of environmentally benign, low-cost, and high-efficiency PSCs.