Efficiency Enhancement of ACZTS/CIGSSE Solar Cell

This study focuses on the efficiency enhancement of hybrid ACZTS/CIGSSe solar cells, combining the advantages of earth-abundant materials and established high-efficiency frameworks. ACZTS, a kesterite-based material, is known for its cost-effectiveness and environmental compatibility but suffers from efficiency limitations due to intrinsic defects and suboptimal carrier transport. On the other hand, CIGSSe exhibits superior optoelectronic properties but faces challenges in scalability and material costs. We present a novel tandem configuration integrating ACZTS as the top cell and CIGSSe as the bottom cell, leveraging their complementary bandgap alignment to maximize light absorption across the solar spectrum. By employing advanced interface engineering techniques, including surface passivation and optimized ZnO: B buffer layer deposition, we significantly reduced recombination losses at the heterojunction interfaces. Additionally, nanostructured back reflectors and anti-reflective coatings were introduced to enhance light trapping and photon recycling. The AFORS-HET simulation results demonstrate a marked improvement in power conversion efficiency (PCE), achieving over 21.95% under standard test conditions. This improvement is attributed to enhanced charge carrier dynamics, minimized defect densities, and improved optical management. The proposed hybrid solar cell design not only addresses the efficiency bottlenecks of individual materials but also offers a scalable and cost-competitive solution for next-generation photovoltaics. Our findings pave the way for advancing sustainable solar technologies with a focus on performance, affordability, and environmental compatibility.