This study explored how varying the material and physical properties of the electron transport layer (ETL) and hole transport layer (HTL) layers affects the performance of CH3NH3SnI3 perovskite solar cells. Numerical simulations were conducted using 1D Solar Cell Capacity Simulator (SCAPS-1D) software, with the AM1.5G solar spectrum at an intensity of 1000 W/m2 applied from the ETL side. The simulation started with the structure fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO)/ETL/CH3NH3SnI3/HTL/Ni, where ZnO2 was assigned as the ETL layer and CuSCN as the HTL layer. Then, different materials were suggested to act as the ETL and HTL layers. Finally, the doping and thickness of the best material obtained for the ETL and HTL layers were optimized. The results reveal that WS2 is the most promising for the ETL, while CuSbS2 was identified as the most suitable material for the HTL in CH3NH3SnI3 solar cells. By increasing the doping levels and layer thicknesses of the ETL and HTL, the conversion efficiency of the solar cell was slightly enhanced. The electrical performance of the CH3NH3SnI3 solar cell showed significant improvement compared to the initial configuration: the Voc increased from 1.024 to 1.042 V, Jsc slightly increased from 33.86 to 33.92 mA/cm2, the fill factor improved from 76.17% to 84.29%, and the overall efficiency (η) increased from 26.42% to 29.8%. This study highlights how material and structural optimizations can improve the performance of CH3NH3SnI3 perovskite solar cells, offering valuable insights for the future design of high-efficiency perovskite photovoltaics.
Citation: Ala'eddin A. Saif, Ghalyiah Alahmadi. Optimization of HTL and ETL materials and parameters for high-efficiency CH3NH3SnI3 perovskite solar cells[J]. AIMS Materials Science, 2025, 12(5): 1004-1024. doi: 10.3934/matersci.2025046
This study explored how varying the material and physical properties of the electron transport layer (ETL) and hole transport layer (HTL) layers affects the performance of CH3NH3SnI3 perovskite solar cells. Numerical simulations were conducted using 1D Solar Cell Capacity Simulator (SCAPS-1D) software, with the AM1.5G solar spectrum at an intensity of 1000 W/m2 applied from the ETL side. The simulation started with the structure fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO)/ETL/CH3NH3SnI3/HTL/Ni, where ZnO2 was assigned as the ETL layer and CuSCN as the HTL layer. Then, different materials were suggested to act as the ETL and HTL layers. Finally, the doping and thickness of the best material obtained for the ETL and HTL layers were optimized. The results reveal that WS2 is the most promising for the ETL, while CuSbS2 was identified as the most suitable material for the HTL in CH3NH3SnI3 solar cells. By increasing the doping levels and layer thicknesses of the ETL and HTL, the conversion efficiency of the solar cell was slightly enhanced. The electrical performance of the CH3NH3SnI3 solar cell showed significant improvement compared to the initial configuration: the Voc increased from 1.024 to 1.042 V, Jsc slightly increased from 33.86 to 33.92 mA/cm2, the fill factor improved from 76.17% to 84.29%, and the overall efficiency (η) increased from 26.42% to 29.8%. This study highlights how material and structural optimizations can improve the performance of CH3NH3SnI3 perovskite solar cells, offering valuable insights for the future design of high-efficiency perovskite photovoltaics.
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