Volume 2: Innovative Solutions for Energy Transitions: Part I

Simulation and Optimization of Nanostructured Cu2O/TiO2 Pn Heterojunction Solar Cells Using Scaps Enebe GC, Ukoba K, Jen T-C

Abstract

This paper reported numerical simulation and optimization of nanostructured Cu2O/TiO2 pn heterojunction solar cells. This is with a view to providing an optimized cell efficiency to aid experiment and development of high-efficiency metal oxide solar cells. The solar cells equations were modelled and thereafter theoretically validated on the nanostructured metal oxides. The model working points include a room temperature of 300K, input power of 1000W/m2 using illumination of AM1.5 lamp, and under varied thickness of 0.5 µm to 10.0 µm for the absorber layer (Cu2O) and 0.05 µm to 6.0 µm for the buffer layer (TiO2). The modelled solar cell exhibits a short-circuit current (Jsc) of 24.0764 A, the open-circuit voltage (Voc) of 1.0486 V, the fill factor (FF) of 63.20 %, and the efficiency (η) of 1.6% at absorber layer thickness of 500 nm and buffer layer thickness of 50 nm. Also, the defect density was obtained for the solar cells. This will serve as a theoretical guide for laboratory research on the improvement of efficiency of Cu2O metal oxide solar cells. This will open a new frontier for modelling of metal oxide based thin film solar cells especially Cu2O thin films solar cells. This is a booster in the quest to develop affordable and sustainable energy by encouraging more research in solar cells technologies in low-income countries.

Keywords Cu2O/TiO2, Optimization, Metal Oxide, Nanostructured, Thin films solar cells, SCAPS