Numerical analysis and optimization of Cu₂O/TiO₂, CuO/TiO₂, heterojunction solar cells using SCAPS

Abstract

In the presented work, the Cu2O/TiO2 and CuO/TiO2 heterojunction solar cells have been analyzed by the help of Solar Cell Capacitance Simulator (SCAPS). The effects of various layer parameters like thickness and defect density on the cell performance have been studied in details. Numerical analysis showed how the absorber (CuO, Cu2O) and buffer (TiO2) layers thickness influence the short-circuit current density (Jsc) and efficiency (η) of solar cells. Optimized solar cell structures of Cu2O/TiO2 and CuO/TiO2 showed a potential efficiency of ∼9 and ∼23%, respectively, under the AM1.5G spectrum. Additionally, external quantum efficiency (EQE) curves of the CuO/TiO2 and Cu2O/TiO2 solar cells for various layers thickness of TiO2 were calculated and the optical band gap (Eg) for CuO and Cu2O was obtained. Finally, we examined the effects of defect density on the photovoltaic parameters.