Thickness-Driven Device Characteristics of MAPbI₃ Perovskite Solar Cells: Insights from SCAPS-1D Modelling

Authors

  • Ramakrishna Mahanta Department of Physics, Dharanidhar University, Keonjhar, Odisha, India, 758001.
  • Ipsita Mohanty Department of Physics, Dharanidhar University, Keonjhar, Odisha, India, 758001.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18375174

Keywords:

Perovskite solar cells, SCAPS-1D simulation, Layer thickness optimization, MAPbI3

Abstract

The work assesses the effect of variable thickness on the output of planar MAPbI3 perovskite solar cells (PSCs), studied using SCAPS-1D simulation. A planar heterojunction structure constituting Au/SnS/MAPbI₃/TiO₂/ZnO:Al has been proposed, and the thicknesses of the hole transport layer (HTL), absorber layer, and electron transport layer (ETL) were changed systematically to optimize the efficiency of the device. The thicknesses of HTL (SnS), perovskite absorber, and ETL (TiO2) were adjusted between 0.1 and 1 µm. The simulations were carried out at standard AM1.5G sunlight, and several photovoltaic parameters, such as open-circuit voltage (Voc), short-circuit current density (Jsc), Fill Factor (FF), and Power Conversion Efficiency (PCE), were studied. The optimization of the thickness of HTL (=0.3 µm), perovskite layer (=0.4 µm) and ETL (=0.2 µm) resulted in Voc of 1.036 V, Jsc of 32.01 mA/cm2, FF of 70.89% and overall efficiency of 23.50%. These findings illustrate that the layer engineering has a considerable impact on charge transportation, recombination behaviour, and overall device performance. The study highlights the potential of simulation-driven structural optimization to enhance the efficiency of planar MAPbI3 PSCs.

References

Belarbi, M., Benyoucef, A., & Benyoucef, B. (2014). Simulation of the solar cells with PC1D: Application to cells based on silicon. Advanced Energy: An International Journal (AEIJ), 1(3), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.5121/aeij.2014.1301

Chen, Y., Zhou, N., & Zhou, H. (2018). Organic inorganic hybrid perovskite materials and devices. In Encyclopedia of Modern Optics II (Vol. 5). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-409547-2.13499-8

Gong, J. (2021). Simulation of steady-state characteristics of heterojunction perovskite solar cells in wxAMPS. Optik - International Journal for Light and Electron Optics, 232, 166382. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijleo.2021.166382

Hima, A., Khechekhouche, A., Kemerchou, I., Lakhdar, N., Benhaoua, B., Rogti, F., Telli, I., & Saadoun, A. (2018). GPVDM simulation of layer thickness effect on power conversion efficiency of CH₃NH₃PbI₃ based planar heterojunction solar cell. International Journal of Energetica (IJECA), 3(1), 37–41. https://doi.org/10.46223/ijeeca.v3i1.191

Im, J.-H., Lee, C.-R., Lee, J.-W., Park, S.-W., & Park, N.-G. (2011). 6.5% efficient perovskite quantum-dot-sensitized solar cell. Nanoscale, 3(10), 4088. https://doi.org/10.1039/c1nr10867k

International Energy Agency. (2025). IEA Global Energy Review 2025 Report. Taiyang News. https://www.iea.org/reports/global-energy-review-2025

Khan, D., & Panjwa, M. K. (2021). A short report on up to date stability progress of perovskite solar cells. Academia Letters, Article 2261. https://doi.org/10.20935/AL2261

Mohanty, I., Mangal, S., & Singh, U. P. (2021). Performance optimization of lead free-MASnI3/CIGS heterojunction solar cell with 28.7% efficiency: A numerical approach. Optical Materials, 122, 111812. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.optmat.2021.111812

Mohanty, I., Mangal, S., & Singh, U. P. (2022). A numerical study on defect densities of double absorber CH3NH3PbI3/CIGS solar cell. Materials Today: Proceedings, 62, 987-991. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2022.04.248

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). (n.d.). Best research-cell efficiency chart. https://www.nrel.gov/pv/cell-efficiency.html

Niemegeers, A., Burgelman, M., & Decock, K. (2014). SCAPS manual. University of Gent. https://scaps.elis.ugent.be/

Oku, T. (2020). Crystal structures of perovskite halide compounds used for solar cells. Reviews on Advanced Materials Science, 59, 264–305. https://doi.org/10.1515/rams-2020-0021

Press Information Bureau. (2025). Solar energy contributed the most... now stands at 105.65 GW. Government of India. https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2120729

Qaid, S. M. H., Al Sobaie, M. S., Khan, M. A. M., Bedja, I. M., Alharbi, F. H., Nazeeruddin, M. K., & Aldwayyan, A. S. (2016). Band-gap tuning of lead halide perovskite using a single step spin-coating deposition process. Materials Letters, 164, 498–501. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matlet.2015.10.109

Raimi, D., Campbell, E., Newell, R., Prest, B., Villanueva, S., & Wingenroth, J. (2022). Global energy outlook 2022: Turning points and tension in the energy transition. Resources for the Future. https://www.rff.org/publications/reports/global-energy-outlook-2022

Stangl, R., Froitzheim, A., Kriegel, M., Elstner, L., & Fuhs, W. (2003). AFORS-HET: A computer program for the simulation of heterojunction solar cells to be distributed for public use. In Proceedings of the 3rd World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion (pp. 279–282). Osaka, Japan.

Zhao, Y., Nardes, A. M., & Zhu, K. (2014). Solid-state mesostructured perovskite CH₃NH₃PbI₃ solar cells: Charge transport, recombination, and diffusion length. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 5(3), 490–494. https://doi.org/10.1021/jz4021416

Downloads

Published

2025-12-30

How to Cite

Mahanta, R., & Mohanty, I. (2025). Thickness-Driven Device Characteristics of MAPbI₃ Perovskite Solar Cells: Insights from SCAPS-1D Modelling. Next Gen Multidisciplinary Research, 1(2), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18375174