Unlocking the Sun's potential: solar cell design empowered through BSF+ layer using Silvaco TCAD

Abstract

Solar cell technology plays a crucial role in the sustainable energy landscape, offering a promising avenue for renewable energy generation. In this study, we have presented a physical device simulation of a solar cell using Silvaco TCAD. The objective of this research is to investigate the impact of various parameters on the solar cell's efficiency and explore them for enhancing cell's performance. In general, a solar cell is a composite of several key components, including absorber layer, charge transport layers, contacts, and anti-reflection coating. This study encompasses the physical processes occurring within the solar cell, such as carrier generation, recombination, and transport. In this study, the parameters such as absorber layer thickness, doping concentration, and contact materials are taken as design parameters. The employment of various suitable contact materials resulted in reduced resistive losses and improved the charge extraction mechanism. Through rigorous simulation and analysis, we have identified the optimum parameter combination leading to an enhanced efficiency of the solar cell. After optimizing the absorber with a thickness of 200 microns was subjected to varying doping concentrations in the BSF + layer, ranging from 10 15 to 10 20 cm -3 . The photovoltaic characteristics of the proposed design are found to be Voc of 521.7 mV, Jsc of 43.94 mAcm -2 , FF of 77.98%, and an efficiency of 17.88%. Our research will advance solar cell technology, boosting conversion efficiency. Practical implications for designing and optimizing solar cell structures will benefit manufacturers and researchers. This study also lays the groundwork for future innovations in materials and device architectures, leading to more efficient, lightweight, and cost-effective solar cells, promoting sustainable energy solutions.