Performance Optimization of CIGS Thin Film Solar Cell Using SCAPS

Introduction: Solar energy represents a highly promising renewable energy source in India, supported by favorable climatic conditions and national initiatives such as the National Solar Mission. The objective of this study is to enhance the energy conversion efficiency of CIGS thin-film solar cells by systematically optimizing key absorber layer parameters and developing an environmentally benign, cadmium-free device architecture. Methods: A standard CIGS/CdS/ZnO reference cell was first established, followed by the development of a calibrated and correlated numerical model using SCAPS-1D. The effects of absorber bandgap, acceptor doping concentration, and thickness on device performance were investigated over the ranges of 1.040–1.411 eV, 1015–1017 (/cm3), and 0.5–2 μm, respectively. Multiple simulation iterations were performed to identify the optimal absorber parameters. Additionally, toxic CdS was replaced with ZnS, and various buffer layer compositions were evaluated. Results: The op