Numerical modeling of CZTS based heterostructured solar cell for high efficiency PV performance
Pratap Kumar Dakua1, Rohit Vikram Singh Bhadauria2, Dontabhaktuni Jayakumar3
1Department of Electronics & Communication Engineering, Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation, Green Fields, Vaddeswaram, 522302, Andhra Pradesh, India. dakuapratapkumar@gmail.com.
Scientific Reports
|March 23, 2026
Summary
This study enhances copper zinc tin sulfide (CZTS) solar cell efficiency by adding a back-surface field (BSF) layer. The optimized CZTS solar cell achieved a 23.67% efficiency, a significant improvement over cells without a BSF.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Renewable Energy
- Semiconductor Physics
Background:
- Zinc Magnesium Oxide (ZnMgO) serves as a non-toxic, strain-balancing buffer layer in solar cell interfaces.
- Copper Zinc Tin Sulfide (CZTS) is a promising material for low-cost, non-toxic solar cells.
Purpose of the Study:
- To numerically evaluate the performance of ZnMgO/CZTS solar cells with and without a back-surface field (BSF) layer.
- To investigate the impact of BSF layer properties and operating conditions on solar cell efficiency.
Main Methods:
- Simulated a multilayer ZnO:Al/i-ZnO/ZnMgO/CZTS structure.
- Introduced a CZTS-based BSF layer (CZTS2) between the back contact and CZTS1 layer.
- Evaluated performance based on layer parameters, operating temperature, and resistance effects.
Main Results:
- The optimized structure with the BSF layer achieved a maximum efficiency of 23.67%.
- This represents a 4% absolute efficiency increase compared to the structure without a BSF layer.
- Generation and recombination rates were analyzed to explain the efficiency enhancement.
Conclusions:
- The addition of a BSF layer significantly improves the performance of ZnMgO/CZTS solar cells.
- The findings support the development of high-efficiency, low-cost, and environmentally friendly CZTS solar cells.
