Abstract
This paper reported numerical analysis and performance improvement of nanostructured Cu2O/TiO2 pn heterojunction solar cells. Metal oxides thin films including Copper oxides are promising materials for photovoltaic applications. Although, the efficiency is still lower than other solar cells materials. This paper focused on improving the efficiency of Cu2O/TiO2 solar cells using SCAPS simulation tool. This was done by varying the effect of film surface thickness and effect of varying deposition temperature on the solar cells. The aim of the study is to serve as a theoretical guide for laboratory research on the improvement of efficiency of Cu2O metal oxide solar cells. The solar cells equations were modelled and thereafter theoretical validation of the nanostructured metal oxides was performed. The model working points input power of 100 mW/m2 using an illumination of AM1.5 lamp. The modelled solar cell exhibits a short-circuit current (Jsc) of 26.57 mA/cm2, 0.7188 V open-circuit voltage (Voc), fill factor (FF) of 70, and 13.37% efficiency (η). A value of 2.30 eV was recorded for the band gap. Also, electron affinity and Nyquist plot were obtained for the solar cells. Solar cells with thin absorber surface thickness will result in lower fabrication cost. This will open a new frontier for modelling of metal oxide based thin films solar cells especially Cu2O thin films solar cells.