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Numerical Simulation and Optimization of n-Al-ZnO/n-CdS/p-CIGS/p-Si/p-MoOx/Mo Tandem Solar Cell

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Abstract

CdS/CIGS mono junction is a potential approach to produce an ultra-high efficiency and low-cost all-thin-film solar cell. In this article, a conventional mono junction with a maximum efficiency of 22.56% at 4 µm of CIGS thickness is developed and optimized. We have combined this cell with Si/MoOx (20 nm) (Si polycrystalline) as a tandem solar cell based on CIGS thin films {(Al-ZnO/CdS/CIGS/Si/MoOx HTL/Mo)} to enhance the CIGS solar cell’s efficiency. The new solar cell’s characteristic was analyzed by employing SCAPS-1D. From the presented results, it turns out that, the findings of the studied (Al-ZnO/CdS/CIGS/Mo) characteristics are in excellent accordance with those obtained by experimental methods. The aim of the research work was the study of the Si/MoOx layer's influence on the efficiency of the proposed CIGS-based hetero-junction solar cell. A significant efficiency of 28.08% has been obtained for the studied solar cell with 1 µm thick of CIGS, 1 µm and 20 nm of Si, and MoOx layers respectively. All of these findings indicate that CIGS is compatible with Si/MoOx adjoining layers, ensuring good contact and charge transmission.

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Data Availability

The datasets generated and analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

All data generated and analyzed in this original work research are included in this published paper as tables, figures, and detailed parameters with their reference’s sources.

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Acknowledgements

All authors gratefully thank Dr. Marc Burgelman of Ghent University in Belgium for supplying the SCAPS 1-D simulator program and respectfully thank everyone who contributed to this scientific work.

Funding

The authors declare that no funds, grants, or other support were received during the preparation of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. MESE / Lab. PETI, Ouarzazate Polydisciplinary Faculty, University of Ibn Zohr, Agadir, Morocco

    Abdelaziz Ait Abdelkadir, Essaadia Oublal, Mustapha Sahal & Abdelhadi Kotri

  2. School of Design Engineering, Universitat Politécnica de València, València, Spain

    Benabé Mari Soucase

  3. Ouarzazate Polydisciplinary Faculty, University of Ibn Zohr, Agadir, Morocco

    Mohmed Hangoure

  4. Department of Chemistry, Maharshi Dayanand University, Haryana, Rohtak, India

    Naveen Kumar

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  1. Abdelaziz Ait Abdelkadir
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Contributions

The study's conception and design were contributed to by all of the authors. Material preparation, data collecting, and analysis were provided by Ph. D students Abdelaziz AIT ABDELKADIR and Essaadia OUBLAL, as well as Professor Mustapha SAHAL, Professor Abdelhadi KOTRI, Professor Mohamed HANGOURE, Professor Bernabé Mari Soucase, and Professor Naveen KUMAR.

Abdelaziz AIT ABDELKADIR and Professor Mustapha SAHAL wrote the first draft of the text, while other writers provided feedback on the earlier manuscript. The final document was read and approved by all of the writers.

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Correspondence to Abdelaziz Ait Abdelkadir or Mustapha Sahal.

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Ait Abdelkadir, A., Oublal, E., Sahal, M. et al. Numerical Simulation and Optimization of n-Al-ZnO/n-CdS/p-CIGS/p-Si/p-MoOx/Mo Tandem Solar Cell. Silicon 15, 2125–2135 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-022-02144-1

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