Performance Optimisation of Bifacial CZTS Thin-Film Solar Cells to Achieve Maximum Power Conversion Efficiency

Authors

  • M. Zebach Laboratory for the Development of Renewable Energies and their Applications in Saharan Areas, TAHRI Mohammed University, Bechar-Algeria 08000
  • A. Hemmani Laboratory for the Development of Renewable Energies and their Applications in Saharan Areas, TAHRI Mohammed University, Bechar-Algeria 08000
  • H. Khachab Laboratory for the Development of Renewable Energies and their Applications in Saharan Areas, TAHRI Mohammed University, Bechar-Algeria 08000

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15407/ujpe71.5.469

Keywords:

CZTS solar cells, thin films, bifacial photovoltaics, numerical simulation, heterojunction

Abstract

Kesterite Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) is among the most promising absorber materials for thin-film solar cells due to its direct bandgap (1.1–1.5 eV), high absorption coefficient (>104 cm−1), earth abundance, non-toxicity, and low production cost. Despite these advantages, the efficiency of CZTS-based devices remains limited by secondary phase formation, electronic defects, and fabrication instability. In this work, a numerical model for a bifacial CZTS thinfilm solar cell is developed using a self-consistent Poisson–drift–diffusion framework implemented in MATLAB/Simulink. By optimising the absorber and buffer layer thicknesses, a maximum power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 19.66% is achieved for a bifacial CZTS device with a 4 μm absorber and a 10 nm CdS buffer layer. This result exceeds reported experimental efficiencies for comparable CZTS heterojunctions (approximately 15.8%) while remaining below the Shockley–Queisser theoretical limit of 32.4%. The findings highlight the potential of bifacial CZTS architectures as an effective strategy for enhancing photovoltaic performance.

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Published

2026-05-11

Issue

Vol. 71 No. 5 (2026)

Section

Surface physics

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How to Cite

Performance Optimisation of Bifacial CZTS Thin-Film Solar Cells to Achieve Maximum Power Conversion Efficiency. (2026). Ukrainian Journal of Physics, 71(5), 469. https://doi.org/10.15407/ujpe71.5.469