Design, Simulation and Optimization of the efficiency of CdS –CdTe Solar Cell

Abstract

Everything in this age of science and technology is dependent upon energy. A lot of the sources of energy like fossil fuels pollutes the environment, is non - renewable and is quickly and easily used up like sands in an hourglass. On the other hand, nuclear energy, once considered to run the world of the future is slowly ditched after the incidents of Chernobyl and recent incidents of the tsunami in Fukushima. These days, one of the known, efficient, renewable source of energy where the bulk of the research is focused on is the light from the sun. That’s how solar cells came into existence. In the solar cells of today, mostly Silicon is used because of its abundance and its minimal price. Works are going on with other materials suitable for displacing silicon. One such candidate is CdS and CdTe, about whom this whole thesis is based upon. CdS – CdTe solar cells provide similar efficiencies when 1/100th of thickness of Silicon and with prices affordable for common citizen. In this specific thesis, by using 55 nm CdS, 1 μm CdTe and a back contact made up of Iridium, an efficiency of 27.056% was achieved with other parameters as Voc = -1.151 V, Jsc = 26.315 mA/cm2, FF = -0.893. All the simulation has been carried out by Analysis of Microelectronic and Photonic Structures (AMPS – 1D) simulator.