Feasibility of Exceeding 20% Efficiency for Kesterite/c-Silicon Tandem Solar Cells Using an Alternative Buffer Layer: Optical and Electrical Analysis.

Tandem solar cells have the potential to be more efficient than the Shockley-Queisser limit imposed on single junction cells. In this study, optical and electrical modeling based on experimental data were used to investigate the possibility of boosting the performance of kesterite/c-Si tandem solar cells by inserting an alternative nontoxic TiO buffer layer into the kesterite top subcell. First, with SCAPS-1D simulation, we determined the data reported for the best kesterite (CZTS (Eg = 1.

Numerical simulation study of high-efficiency silicon-based cell destined for photoelectrochemical wastewater treatment.

Photoelectrochemical setups based on semiconductor photoelectrodes are known for their effectiveness in wastewater treatment, powered by solar energy, which is a renewable and sustainable source. These systems require semiconductor photocatalysts with excellent light-absorbing properties and high stability in aqueous environments. In this regard, silicon is highly investigated in solar cells thanks to its narrow bandgap, making it a potential solar harvester.