Synthesis and Simulation study of Titanium Dioxide-Based Nanomaterial for Electron Carrier Selective Contact Solar Cells

Abstract

Titanium dioxide-based nanomaterials were synthesized by utilizing the sol-gel process in this research. Due to the wide bandgap and low work function, TiO2 would easily replace the n-doped amorphous silicon (a-Si:H (n)) layer in commercial Silicon Heterojunction (SHJ) solar cells. Iso-Propanol Alcohol was used as sol while the Titanium Tetra Iso Propoxides was used as a gel. The TiO2 gel was formed and then dried for 2 hours at 300oC to obtain the powder form. After that, the TiO2 powder was dried for 3 hours in a furnace to obtain TiO2 nanomaterials. The TiO2powder was deposited on silicon and, glass substrate using the spin-coating process after successful production. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis were used to study the surface morphology and the structure of TiO2nanomaterials.Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) was used to measure the roughness and, 3D profile, while absorption of the TiO2 based nanomaterials will be measured using a UV-Vs spectrophotometer. The AFORS-HET simulator was used to simulate electron carrier selective contact (CSC) solar cells for a complete photovoltaic device for various TiO2 thicknesses and, work functions.