A comparative study of CuO based solar cell with ZnTe HTL and SnS₂ ETL using SCAPS 1D simulation

The black solid known as copper(II) oxide (CuO) has a high degree of thermal stability and is frequently utilized as a semiconductor material and catalyst because of its exceptional catalytic capabilities. This article represents a simulation-based analysis of solar cells made up of CuO. Before silicon cells became widely used, copper oxide was one of the first semiconductor materials for solar cells. Additionally, copper is non-toxic and good for the environment. In our simulation, we chose CuO-based solar panels with SnS₂ ETL and ZnTe HTL. The proposed (FTO/SnS₂/CuO/ZnTe) structure is carefully examined and analyzed using simulations on SCAPS-1D. Variations in various material parameters are used to evaluate the characteristics of the solar panels. In order to optimize the mentioned structure and enhance solar cell activity, the thickness of absorber, ETL, and HTL, acceptor concentration (N_A), donor concentration (N_D), and defect densities (N_t) were all thoroughly analyzed. This solar cell’s optimum efficiency of power conversion (PCE) was 29.29%, with results for the V_OC, Jsc, and FF of 1.3007 V, 26.567797 mA/cm², and 84.77%, respectively. Additionally, we looked at whether temperature had an impact on the efficiency of the solar panels. This improved structure of the CuO-based solar cell has the potential to revolutionize renewable energy systems by increasing solar energy generation efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Potential avenues for future research include improving stability and scalability for wider application in energy-efficient systems.