Optimization of sensitized perovskite solar cells with Zn–Cu–In–Se quantum dots to increase quantum efficiency

Perovskite solar cells are efficient units in systems with modern renewable energy sources. Increasing the efficiency of solar cells is important in photovoltaic (PV) systems. In this paper, the effect of Zn–Cu–In–Se quantum dots on the performance of thin-film perovskite solar cells is analyzed. The effect of the specification of the perovskite layer, electrical connections and quantum dots has been discussed using modeling of solar cell open-circuit voltage, short-circuit current, spectral response, efficiency, and fill factor. Based on the simulation results, without using Zn–Cu–In–Se quantum dots, the optimal performance occurs in high and low electrode work function as 3.5 eV and 5.93 eV achieving 21.53% energy conversion efficiency. In the proposed perovskite solar cell including Zn–Cu–In–Se quantum dots, 33.56% efficiency can be obtained in the same conditions. More intensity of the electric field inside the perovskite layer and the quantum dots causes to increase the energy conversion efficiency compared to the case without quantum dots. The achievable power in case of Zn–Cu–In–Se quantum dots is 0.275 mW/cm2, which is 35% more than the case without these quantum dots in the solar cell. As shown in simulation results section, many improvements can be achieved via using Zn–Cu–In–Se quantum dots in the perovskite solar cell.