DataVXJournal of Ovonic ResearchPaper
journal article·2025-10-01Open access

Simulation and improvement performance of PN (BGaAs/GaAs) and PIN (GaAs/BGaAs/GaAs) junction solar cells

Laboratory of micro-optoelectronics and nanostructures (LR99ES29), University of Monastir, Faculty of Sciences Monastir, Environment Avenue5019 Monastir, Tunisia, D. Slimi, R. Hamila, Laboratory of micro-optoelectronics and nanostructures (LR99ES29), University of Monastir, Faculty of Sciences Monastir, Environment Avenue5019 Monastir, Tunisia, F. Saidi, Laboratory of micro-optoelectronics and nanostructures (LR99ES29), University of Monastir, Faculty of Sciences Monastir, Environment Avenue5019 Monastir, Tunisia, A. Helali, Laboratory of micro-optoelectronics and nanostructures (LR99ES29), University of Monastir, Faculty of Sciences Monastir, Environment Avenue5019 Monastir, Tunisia, M. Madani, Laboratory for the Development of Renewable Energies and their Applications in Saharan areas (LDREAS), TAHRI Med University of Bechar, Faculty of Exact Sciences, Algeria, M. H. Dhaou, Department of physics, College of Science, Qassim University, Saudi Arabia, D. Ilkay, Department of Nanotechnology Engineering and Nanophotonics Research and Application Center, Sivas Cumhuriyet University, 58140 Sivas, Turkey

Journal of Ovonic Research· Volume 21· Issue 5
Publisher pageOpen full text
Source abstract

Abstract

This work presents the development of PN, PIN, and P+PIN solar cells using GaAs and BGaAs in AM1.5G conditions. The structural modeling and simulation of the device were carried out using Silvaco applications. The efficiency of BGaAs and GaAs materials was examined by varying doping concentration and thickness. The study was designed to optimize the physical properties of PN, PIN, and P+PIN junction cell structures for high efficiency. First, the doping dosage and layer thickness were optimized to create the best possible design for the cells. Then, the conversion capacity, short-circuit current density, fill factor, and open-circuit voltage of the photovoltaic cells were evaluated. Finally, the optimized devices were compared against existing devices in the literature. While the simulated P+PIN structure efficiency reached 28.2%, compared to 25.2% for the PIN structure, homojunction GaAs attained an efficiency of around 22.4%, compared to the BGaAs/GaAs heterojunction, which only represents 19.6% efficiency. Each solar cell simulation was run at 300 K with 1 sun of normal solar spectrum AM1.5G light intensity.
Source: crossref · Quality: baseline

Research context

Electronic materials

OpenAlex topics: solar cell performance optimization · Semiconductor Quantum Structures and Devices · Semiconductor materials and interfaces

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

References (41)

Show source-provided references
1. [1] Li, J., et al., Frontiers in Physics 8 (2021): 631925; https://doi.org/10.3389/fphy.2020.63192510.3389/fphy.2020.631925 ↗
2. [2] Nelson, Jenny A., The physics of solar cells, World Scientific Publishing Company, 2003; https://doi.org/10.1142/p27610.1142/p276 ↗
3. [3] Wang, Shuang, et al., Energy Materials 5.8 (2025): N-A; https://doi.org/10.20517/energymater.2024.30310.20517/energymater.2024.303 ↗
4. [4] Li, Q., et al., Europhysics Letters 71.6 (2005): 994; https://doi.org/10.1209/epl/i2005-10170-710.1209/epl/i2005-10170-7 ↗
5. [5] Hossain, Md Faruk, Shuhei Yagi, Hiroyuki Yaguchi, AIP Advances 15.2 (2025); https://doi.org/10.1063/5.024767610.1063/5.0247676 ↗
6. [6] Nikolić, Veljko, Nebojša Janković, Proceedings of Small Systems Simulation Symposium, Niš, Serbia. 2012.
7. [7] Attari, K., Amhaimar, L., Asselman, A., Bassou, M., International Journal of Photoenergy, 2017; https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/826935810.1155/2017/8269358 ↗
8. [8] Manual, ATLAS User'S, Device simulation software, Silvaco Int., Santa Clara, CA (2008). 589
9. [9] Atlas User's Manual Device Simulation Software; Silvaco, Inc. 4701 Patrick Henry Drive, Bldg. 2 Santa Clara, CA 95054 October 2, 2013.
10. [10] Khelifi, Samira, Abderrahmane Belghachi, Rеvuе des Energies Renouvelables 7.1 (2004): 13-21; https://doi.org/10.54966/jreen.v7i1.86110.54966/jreen.v7i1.861 ↗
11. [11] Silvaco, I., ATLAS User's Manual: Device Simulation Software; Silvaco Int., Santa Clara, CA, USA 2019 (2018).
12. [12] Ilahi, Soufiene, et al., Physica B: Condensed Matter 421 (2013): 105-109; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physb.2013.03.04510.1016/j.physb.2013.03.045 ↗
13. [13] Yan, Yingce, Yanlong Wang, Huifang Ma, Chinese Journal of Computational Physics 33.2 (2016): 221.
14. [14] Kharchich, Fatima Zahra, Abdellatif Khamlichi, Optik 272 (2023): 170196; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijleo.2022.17019610.1016/j.ijleo.2022.170196 ↗
15. [15] Manual, ATLAS User'S, ATLAS User's Manual: Device Simulation Software, Version 5.15. 32. R. R, Santa Clara, CA, USA (2010).
16. [16] Sahoo, G. S., G. P. Mishra, Superlattices and Microstructures 109 (2017): 794-804; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spmi.2017.06.00210.1016/j.spmi.2017.06.002 ↗
17. [17] Lindsay, A., E. P. O'Reilly, Physica Status Solidi C 5.2 (2008): 454-459; https://doi.org/10.1002/pssc.20077745610.1002/pssc.200777456 ↗
18. [18] Hamila, R., et al., Journal of luminescence 129.9 (2009): 1010-1014; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jlumin.2009.04.01310.1016/j.jlumin.2009.04.013 ↗
19. [19] Sander, Thomas, et al., Physical Review B-Condensed Matter and Materials Physics 83.23 (2011): 235213; https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.83.23521310.1103/PhysRevB.83.235213 ↗
20. [20] Sharma, Arvind, Journal of Electronic Materials 49 (2020): 6263-6269; https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-020-08389-z10.1007/s11664-020-08389-z ↗
21. [21] Lindholm, Fredrick A., Jerry G. Fossum, Edward L. Burgess, IEEE transactions on electron devices 26.3 (2005): 165-171; https://doi.org/10.1109/T-ED.1979.1940010.1109/T-ED.1979.19400 ↗
22. [22] Singh, Khomdram Jolson, Subir Kumar Sarkar, Optical and Quantum Electronics 43 (2012): 1-21; https://doi.org/10.1007/s11082-011-9499-y10.1007/s11082-011-9499-y ↗
23. [23] Zidani, Ikram, et al., East European Journal of Physics 1 (2025): 141-150; https://doi.org/10.26565/2312-4334-2025-1-1310.26565/2312-4334-2025-1-13 ↗
24. [24] Solanki, Chetan Singh, Solar photovoltaics: fundamentals, technologies and applications, Phi learning pvt. Ltd., 2015.
25. [25] Saga, Tatsuo, Npg Asia Materials 2.3 (2010): 96-102; https://doi.org/10.1038/asiamat.2010.8210.1038/asiamat.2010.82 ↗
26. [26] Lounis, A., et al. TCAD simulations of ATLAS pixel guard ring and edge structure for SLHC upgrade. No. ATL-UPGRADE-PUB-2010-001. ATL-COM-UPGRADE-2009-013, 2010.
27. [27] Salem, Marwa S., et al., Semiconductor Science and Technology 34.3 (2019): 035012; https://doi.org/10.1088/1361-6641/ab007810.1088/1361-6641/ab0078 ↗
28. [28] Serdouk, Mohammed Ridha, Etude par simulation numérique des propriétés électriques d'une cellule solaire en silicium amorphe hydrogéné (a-Si: H). Diss. Université Mohamed Khider-Biskra, 2015.
29. [29] Mimoune, Mohamed, Étude des capteurs photovoltaïques basés sur les nanotechnologies, Diss. Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 2016.
30. [30] Mallem, Izzeddine, Simulation des cellules solaires hétérojonction Si-SiGe par SILVACO, Diss. Université Mohamed Khider-Biskra, 2014.
31. [31] El-Huni, Walid, Modélisation de cellules solaires multi-tandem bas coût et très haut rendement à base de nitrures des éléments III-V, Diss. Université Paris Saclay (COmUE), 2016.
32. [32] Mesrane, A., et al., International Journal of Photoenergy 2015.1 (2015): 594858; https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/59485810.1155/2015/594858 ↗
33. [33] Makambo, John Beya, Performance and Assessment of Tandem Galnp/GaAs dual-junction solar cells using SCAPS-1D, University of Johannesburg (South Africa), 2022. 590
34. [34] Hamady, Sidi Ould Saad, Simulation numérique et caractérisation de matériaux semiconducteurs III-N pour détecteurs ultraviolet et cellules solaires, Diss. Université de lorraine, 2017.
35. [35] Khelifi, Samira, Abderrahmane Belghachi, Rеvuе des Energies Renouvelables 7.1 (2004): 13-21; https://doi.org/10.54966/jreen.v7i1.86110.54966/jreen.v7i1.861 ↗
36. [36] Mohamed, Esmeel T. et al., Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments 44 (2021): 101067; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seta.2021.10106710.1016/j.seta.2021.101067 ↗
37. [37] Abderrezek, M., et al., Elektronika ir Elektrotechnika 19.8 (2013): 41-44; https://doi.org/10.5755/j01.eee.19.8.539210.5755/j01.eee.19.8.5392 ↗
38. [38] Hwang, Sun-Tae, et al., Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 182 (2018): 348-353; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2018.03.03710.1016/j.solmat.2018.03.037 ↗
39. [39] Jomen, Ryota, et al., Japanese Journal of Applied Physics 57.8S3 (2018): 08RD12; https://doi.org/10.7567/JJAP.57.08RD1210.7567/JJAP.57.08RD12 ↗
40. [40] Al-Ezzi, Athil S. Ibrahim, M. N. M. Ansari, Journal of the Korean Physical Society 86.3 (2025): 245-262; https://doi.org/10.1007/s40042-024-01260-y10.1007/s40042-024-01260-y ↗
41. [41] Sahoo, Girija Shankar, Guru Prasad Mishra, IEEE Transactions on Electron Devices 66.1 (2018): 153-159; https://doi.org/10.1109/TED.2018.285976610.1109/TED.2018.2859766 ↗