Effects of the CdS nanowire layer on the photocurrent generation in CIGS solar cells

In this paper, we perform a simulation on nanowire-CdS/bulk-CIGS heterojunction solar cells. In order to calculate the improvement in the efficiency, the light generated current density for the junction was calculated and it is shown that replacing CdS nanowires (NWs) with bulk CdS, leads up to 17% improving in short circuit current. Band diagram of typical bulk and NW-CdS/CIGS has been calculated and an improvement in band discontinuity in NW-CdS/CIGS observed. Also, light generated current density calculation shows absorption edge shift in CdS NWs, especially in the range of 400–480 nm, in comparison bulk CdS.