Enhancing the Efficiency of Versatile Perovskite Solar Cells Comprising MASnI ₃ for Photovoltaic Systems Utilizing Novel TCOs-Based Front Contacts: A SCAPS-1D Simulation Analysis

This study investigates and optimizes the performance of lead-free CH 3 NH 3 SnI 3 (MASnI 3 ) perovskite solar cells using SCAPS-1D by analyzing the combined influence of transparent conducting oxides (TCOs), layer thicknesses, defect densities and doping concentrations. A full device structure Ni/CIGS/CH 3 NH 3 SnI 3 /TiO 2 /TCO is evaluated under AM1.5G illumination. Four experimentally fabricated TCOs (ZnO:Al, ZnO:Sn, ZnO:Al/ZnO:Sn and ZnO:Sn/ZnO:Al) were incorporated to study the role of optical transmittance, work function, and energy-band alignment on carrier extraction. The impacts of TCO selection, absorber and HTL thickness, doping density of CH 3 NH 3 SnI 3 , CIGS and TiO 2 , defect density, temperature, Rs and Rsh on the photovoltaic parameters were systematically analyzed. The optimized device (Ni/CIGS/CH 3 NH 3 SnI 3 /TiO 2 /ZnO:Sn/ZnO:Al) delivered J sc = 34.29 mA/cm 2 , V oc = 0.97 V, FF = 86.04% and PCE = 28.61%. The findings of this research will advance the development of high-efficiency; lead-free perovskite solar cells. This progress will be achieved through the application of bilayer TCO engineering techniques.