Simulation approach for studying the performances of original superstrate CIGS thin films solar cells

In this work, we report on the performances of superstrate Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) thin film solar cells with an alternative SLG/SnO2:F/CIGS/In2Se3/Zn structure using AMPS-1D (Analysis of Microelectronic and Photonic structures) device simulator. An inverted surface layer, n-type CIGS layer, is inserted between the In2Se3 buffer and CIGS absorber layers and the SnO2:F layer is just a transparent conducting oxide (TCO). The simulation has been carried out by lighting through SnO2:F. The obtained results show that the existence of so-called ‘ordered defect compound’ (ODC) layer in such a structure is the critical factor responsible for the optimization of the performances. Photovoltaic parameters were determined using the current density-voltage (J–V) curve. An optimal absorber and ODC layer thickness has been estimated, that improve significantly the devices efficiency exceeding 15% AM1.5 G. The variation of carrier density in In2Se3 layer has an influence on the superstrate CIGS cells performances. Moreover, the quantum efficiency (Q.E.) characteristics display a maximum value of about 80% in the visible range.