Numerical simulation of novel lead-free Cs3Sb2Br9 absorber-based highly efficient perovskite solar cell

Abstract

In this paper, a novel Cs 3 Sb 2 Br 9 perovskite is presented for the absorber layer of perovskite solar cells (PSC). A planar structure as ITO/TiO 2 /Absorber/Spiro-OMeTAD/Au with Cs 3 Sb 2 Br 9 as a light harvesting material is numerically simulated using SCAPS-1D simulation software. Initially, the optimization is performed on the various material parameters of absorber layer such as thickness, bulk defect density, relative permittivity and bandgap. The obtained optimal values for these parameters are 1000 nm, 1 × 10 12 cm −3 , 10, and 2.0 eV, respectively. Finally, the proposed PSC structure with optimized absorber layer is achieved the maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 15.69% whereas V OC as 1.31 V, J SC as 13.67 mA/cm 2 , FF as 87.61%, and QE of ∼100% at 390 nm wavelength near the visible range of solar spectrum. The obtained results of numerical simulations with Cs 3 Sb 2 Br 9 as absorber layer endorse the novel proposed PSC material as the main body of PSC and opens a better route towards the development of a cost effective, highly efficient (Pb) lead-free and environment friendly PSC. • A novel Cs 3 Sb 2 Br 9 absorber layer material is proposed for design of high efficiency lead-free perovskite solar cell. • Numerical analysis and optimization of novel absorber in proposed PSC structure is performed using SCAPS-1D to investigate the effect of bulk defect density, absorber thickness, energy bandgap and permittivity variations on PSC parameters. • A planar structure consisting of charge transport materials TiO 2 and Spiro-OMeTAD used as ETL and HTL, is simulated for the analysis. • The proposed PSC is promising and may offer the PCE of 15.69% with V OC of 1.31 V , J SC of 13.67 mA/cm 2 and FF of 86.78%.