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Tuning structural, optical, electrical and photovoltaic characteristics of n-type CdS1−xSbx layers for optimizing the performance of n-(CdS:Sb)/p-Si solar cells

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Abstract

The structural, optical, electrical and photoelectric properties of n-type CdS1−xSbx layers at varied Sb doping concentrations (x = 0, 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 at.%) were studied. The melt quenching process was used to generate the bulk form, whereas the thin layers were formed using the thermal evaporation method. To fabricate the Al/n-(CdS:Sb)/p-Si/Pt solar cell, pure CdS and antimony-doped CdS layers of up to 200 nm thickness (n-type side) were deposited on a single-crystallized silicon glass substrate (2 mm) with the Miller's directions (1 0 0). The fabricated solar cells' dark and illuminated current density–voltage (J–V), the power–voltage (P–V) and the capacitance–voltage (C–V) characteristics were thoroughly studied. As well, the open-circuit voltage, the short-circuit current, the fill factor and the power conversion efficiency (PCE) for the studied solar cell were computed. When the antimony ratio is 0.6 at.%, the maximum power conversion efficiency is 30.56%, with the main parameters: Jsc = 26.27 mA/cm2, Voc = 0.84 V, and FF = 0.692. In the instance of using the manufactured devices as detectors, the responsivity and quantum efficiency in the spectrum range of (100–1000 nm) were determined.

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Acknowledgements

The authors extend their appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia, for funding this work through Research Groups Program under Grant No. R.G.P.2/54/42.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, 11884, Cairo, Egypt

    Ammar Qasem

  2. Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia

    B. Alshahrani & H. A. Yakout

  3. Materials Science Department, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

    H. A. Yakout

  4. Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, Abha, 9004, Saudi Arabia

    Hebat-Allah S. Abbas

  5. Photochemistry Department, National Research Center, Dokki, 12622, Cairo, Egypt

    Hebat-Allah S. Abbas

  6. Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assiut, 71542, Egypt

    E. R. Shaaban

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Qasem, A., Alshahrani, B., Yakout, H.A. et al. Tuning structural, optical, electrical and photovoltaic characteristics of n-type CdS1−xSbx layers for optimizing the performance of n-(CdS:Sb)/p-Si solar cells. Appl. Phys. A 127, 849 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-021-04999-4

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