Optimization and comparative analysis of electron transport layers for high-performance InGeCl3-based perovskite solar cells

Abstract

Indium germanium chloride (InGeCl3) emerges as a promising lead-free absorber material for photovoltaic (PV) applications owing to its direct bandgap (1.29 eV), strong light absorption, and excellent structural and thermodynamic stability. This study employs numerical simulations using SCAPS-1D to investigate the photovoltaic performance of InGeCl3-based solar cells, incorporating fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) as the transparent conducting oxide and three distinct electron transport layers (ETLs): CdS, In2S3, and TiO2. Comprehensive simulations were conducted to evaluate the effects of absorber and ETL layer thickness, defect density, doping density, temperature, and parasitic resistances on device performance. Among the evaluated architectures, the FTO/CdS/InGeCl3/Au configuration achieved the highest power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 28.74%, with an open-circuit voltage (VOC) of 0.935 V, short-circuit current density (JSC) of 35.13 mAcm−2, and a fill factor (FF) of 87.52%. In comparison, the TiO2 and In2S3 ETL-based configurations attained PCEs of 24.61% and 23.26%, respectively. The thermal stability analysis and parasitic resistance effects reveal that CdS-based devices exhibit superior performance across operational conditions, while TiO2-based structures show higher thermal stability. These results offer critical insight into the design and optimization of InGeCl3-based perovskite solar cells, paving the way for efficient and stable lead-free photovoltaic technology.

Document Type

Journal Article

Date of Publication

7-11-2025

Volume

10

Issue

26

Publisher

Wiley

School

School of Engineering

RAS ID

83550

Funders

Taif University, Saudi Arabia (TU-DSPP-2024–108)

Comments

Elhadi, M., Tazwar, M. T., Zishan, A. S., Faruque, M. A., Anonto, H. Z., Eid, M. M. A., Rashed, A. N. Z., Rahman, M. F., & Harun‐Or‐Rashid, M. (2025). Optimization and comparative analysis of electron transport layers for high‐performance INGECL3‐based perovskite solar cells. ChemistrySelect, 10(26). https://doi.org/10.1002/slct.202501364

Copyright

subscription content

Link to Full Text

Share

 
COinS