Effective utilization of CdS or CdTe buffer layers for improving the performance of polysilicon solar cells using WxAMPS-1D

The comprehensive simulations performed using the Widget Provided Analysis of Microelectronic and Photonic Structures (WxAMPS-1D) program have provided valuable insights into the intricate interplay between various physical parameters and the performance of polysilicon solar cells. Systematic investigations of the critical parameters of a polycrystalline absorber layer, such as thickness, defect concentration and spectral wavelengths, have revealed its significant ability to enhance light absorption and photocurrent generation. The ability of WxAMPS-1D to model coupled optoelectronic processes, including optical generation, carrier transport, and recombination mechanisms, enables accurate simulations of current–voltage characteristics, quantum efficiencies, and capacitance–voltage behavior. Two structures were employed in our study: FTO/CdS/poly-Si and FTO/CdTe/poly-Si. After observing their current–voltage characteristics (J–V), we investigated the influence of the thickness of the polysilicon films, defect concentration, spectral wavelengths, and initial and optimal quantum efficiencies on both heterojunction solar cell structures. The simulation results revealed the highest performance value for the FTO/CdTe/poly-Si heterojunction solar cell, reaching 26.83%. However, the performance of this structure improved to 27.29% with the addition of the CdS buffer layer.