Potential application of CuSbS2 as the hole transport material in perovskite solar cell: A simulation study

• Published in: Superlattices and microstructures Vol. 118; pp. 116 - 122
• Main Authors: Teimouri, R., Mohammadpour, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2018
• Subjects: CuSbS2; Hole transport layer; Perovskite solar cells; Spiro-OMeTAD; Thin film; Spiro-OMeTAD; Hole transport layer; CuSbS2; Perovskite solar cells; Thin film
• ISSN: 0749-6036; 1096-3677
• DOI: 10.1016/j.spmi.2018.03.079

CH3 NH3 PbI3 (MAPbI3) thin film solar cells, which are reported at laboratory efficiency scale of nearly 22%, are the subject of much attention by energy researchers due to their low cost buildup, acceptable efficiency, high absorption coefficient and diffusion length. The main purpose of this research is to simulate the structure of thin film perovskite solar cells through numerical simulation of SCAPS based on the empirical data for different hole transport layers. After simulating the initial structure of FTO/TiO2/CH3NH3PbI3/Spiro-OMeTAD solar cell, the hole transport layer Spiro-OMeTAD thickness was optimized on a small scale using modeling. The researchers also sought to reduce the amount of this material and the cost of construction. Ultimately, an optimum thickness of 140 nm was obtained for this cell with efficiency of 22.88%. The effect of employing alternative inorganic hole transport layer was investigated as a substitute for Spiro-OMeTAD; Copper antimony sulphide (CuSbS2) was selected due to abundant and available material and high open circuit voltage of about 988 mV. Thickness variations were also performed on a MAPbI3/CuSbS2 solar cell. Finally, It has obtained that perovskite solar cell with 120 nm-thick of CuSbS2 has 23.14% conversion efficiency with acceptable VOC and JSC values. •Thickness of spiro-OMeTAD layer was simulated and optimum thickness of 140 nm was obtained with high efficiency 22.88%.•CuSbS2 material was proposed as a suitable alternative to spiro-OMeTAD for the first time.•High efficiency of 23.14% was determined for an optimum thickness of 120 nm, CuSbS2 hole transporting material.