Exploring the efficiency and transparency in toxic and non-toxic perovskite solar cells by using SCAPS-1D
Abstract
In the quest for sustainable energy solutions, we undertook a rigorous examination of both toxic and non-toxic perovskite solar cells (PSCs), assessing their potential across different absorber thicknesses and their viability within Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV). Our MAPbI3-based solar cell, utilizing TiO2 and Cu2O as electron and hole transport layers, respectively, exhibited an efficiency of 20.65% with a 400 nm opaque absorber. Interestingly, when this thickness was reduced to 200 nm, endowing the PSC with semitransparent properties, certain performance metrics altered, revealing insights crucial for BIPV integration. Further experiments with the toxic FAPbI3 absorber resulted in an efficiency of 23.37% for its 400 nm opaque variant. However, the semitransparent 200 nm layer presented distinct characteristics, emphasizing the complex interplay between thickness, transparency, and efficiency. Our exploration did not stop at toxic materials; we delved into non-toxic alternatives, MAGeI3 and RbGeI3. These variants produced efficiencies of 14.59% and 20.40% for their 400 nm configurations. Yet again, their 200 nm semitransparent counterparts showcased performance nuances. Synthesizing our findings, it becomes evident that semitransparent PSCs hold significant promise for BIPV applications, but achieving an optimal blend of efficiency, transparency, and architectural appeal demands further focused research.
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Copyright (c) 2024 Abdul Haseeb Hassan Khan, Hameed Ullah, Liping Li, Abdul Basit, Khadija Boughanbour, Sumayya Khan, Aimal Daud Khan
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