Numerical Study of TCO/Silicon Solar Cells with Novel Back Surface Field

Abstract

ZnS/Si/CuO heterostructure is investigated by a theoretical approach as a possible low-cost design for photovoltaic conversion in the track of the heterojunction with intrinsic thin layer solar cells. Our results indicate that, owing to perfect electron affinity and lattice matching properties, zinc sulfide with adequate Al doping can efficiently replace zinc oxide window layer as an emitter region for silicon-based solar cells. Lattice mismatch, energy band alignment at the interfaces and material resistivity are the framework parameters of the study. By focusing on the open circuit voltage parameter, the back metal/Si and silicon base doping were optimized so that the conversion efficiency was increased from 3.37% to 15.19%. The introduction of a cupric oxide (CuO) layer acting as a p + back surface field with a bandgap of 1.35 eV and appropriate doping as high as 7 × 1018 cm−3 can enhance the conversion efficiency to 17.30%, provided that the silicon material remains free from contamination by copper atoms and also by performing a suitable treatment of CuO to lower its resistivity.