Modeling of highly efficient and low cost CH3NH3Pb(I1-xClx)3 based perovskite solar cell by numerical simulation

A planar device structure Glass/FTO/TiO2/CH3NH3Pb(I1-xClx)(3)/Cu2O/Carbon with Chloride (Cl) doped CH3NH3PbI3 i.e. CH3NH3Pb(I1-xClx)(3) as a light harvester (attributed to its enhanced thermal stability and film quality) was modeled and investigated using SCAPS 1D simulation software. The simulation results state that the device parameters are much influenced by absorber thickness and the defect in absorber and their optimum values were obtained to be 500 nm and 1 x 10(15) cm(-3) respectively. It was also observed that the defect at interface TiO2/CH3NH3Pb(I1-xClx)(3) affects the photovoltaic performance more than the defect at Cu2O/CH3NH3Pb(I1-xClx)(3) interface. Among the two defects i.e. substitution defect (N-tmA) and oxygen vacancy (N-tO) at TiO2/perovskite interface, N-tMA has slightly greater impact than N-tO. Therefore, a large attention should be given to TiO2/perovskite interface engineering to maintain the defect density less than or equal to 1 x 10(11) cm(-2) to get better device performance. Further, to get good results the acceptor concentration of Cu2O should be 1 x 10(19) cm(-3). Materials with work function >= 5eV for back contact and <= 4.4eV for front contact were found appropriate for the device. The optimum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 18.97% has been obtained using 1D SCAPS simulation software. These results will provide a path leading towards development of low cost and highly efficient solar cell.