Enhancing the efficiency of versatile perovskite solar cells comprising MASnI 3 for photovoltaic systems utilizing novel TCOs-based front contacts: A SCAPS-1D simulation analysis

This study investigates and optimizes the performance of lead-free CH 3 NH 3 SnI 3 (MASnI 3 ) perovskite solar cells (PSCs) using SCAPS-1D by analyzing the combined influence of transparent conducting oxides (TCOs), layer thicknesses, defect densities and doping concentrations. A full device structure Ni/CIGS/CH 3 NH 3 SnI 3 /TiO2/TCO is evaluated under AM1.5G illumination. Four experimentally fabricated TCOs (ZnO:Al, ZnO:Sn, ZnO:Al/ZnO:Sn and ZnO:Sn/ZnO:Al) were incorporated to study the role of optical transmittance, work function and energy-band alignment on carrier extraction. The impacts of TCO selection, absorber and hole transporting layer (HTL) thickness, doping density of CH 3 NH 3 SnI 3 , Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS) and titanium oxide (TiO 2 ), defect density, temperature, [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] on the photovoltaic parameters were systematically analyzed. The optimized device (Ni/CIGS/CH 3 NH 3 SnI 3 /TiO 2 /ZnO:Sn/ZnO:Al) delivered [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]mA/cm 2 , [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]V, form factor (FF)[Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]86.04% and power conversion efficiency (PCE)[Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]28.61%. The findings of this research will advance the development of high-efficiency, lead-free PSCs. This progress will be achieved through the application of bilayer TCO engineering techniques.