Investigating recombination mechanisms in Sb2S3 solar cells

The optimized Sb2S3 solar cell configuration demonstrates a 30% increase in conversion efficiency. (Image Credit: Nature)

The study highlighted in Nature.com examines the efficiency of Sb2S3 solar cells, which have a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 8.00%, significantly lower than the Shockley–Quisser (SQ) limit of 28.64%. This low efficiency is attributed to substantial recombination losses due to defects and misaligned energy levels. By using detailed analytical modeling that considers various recombination mechanisms, the study aims to improve the solar cell structure. The model, validated against experimental data, demonstrates significant performance improvements, including a 30% increase in conversion efficiency. The optimized solar cell configuration also shows enhanced reliability against interfacial traps. The findings stress the importance of precise band alignment and parameter tuning to enhance Sb2S3 solar cell performance.