International Journal of Computing and Digital Systems

ISSN (2210-142X)
Int. J. Com. Dig. Sys. #, No.# (Mon-20..)

TCAD Based Simulation and Performance Optimization of

PPV/PCBM and Perovskite PV cells
Mohammad Asif Iqbal

Research Scholar, Department of EEE, Poornima University Jaipur, India

E-mail address: asif@poornima.org

Dr. Sunil Kumar Gupta

Professor, EEE, School of Engineering & Technology, Poornima University, Jaipur, India
Email: sunil.gupta@poornima.edu.in

Received ## Mon.20##, Revised ## Mon. 20##, Accepted ## Mon. 20##, Published ## Mon. 20##

Abstract: To address the non –renewable energy source lack, solar cells are the most potential renewable and carbon less electric
energy asset. Because of possible uses of active semiconductor materials and their immense applications in the field of short
wavelength optoelectronic solar cells, organic thin films are now a day’s attracting most of the researchers and academicians.
PPV/PCBM additionally shows alluring photovoltaic (optical and electrical) properties, for example, high resilience to radiation,
high versatility and high ingestion coefficient enable more slender layers of material to retain high transition coverage of the solar
spectrum range. An organic solar cell comes with low efficiency but they provide good economic benefits. The inorganic solar cells
provide good efficiencies but they are a bit costlier. In this paper TCAD Based Simulation and Performance Optimization of
PPV/PCBM and Perovskite based solar cells have been presented.

Keywords: PPV/PCBM,Bulk hetrojunction solar cells,Polymer cells.

In any case, the assembling cost and extremely hard to

1. INTRODUCTION
Silicon based PV cell is leading the way in PV cell
technology. Mono-polycrystalline silicon have been
mainly used and can be found everywhere PV panels on
roofs, street light and even on electric cars. Today, silicon
based PV cells used and account for 98% of all the PV
cells(Leung et al., 1998). With conversion output of the
devices peaks up to more than 25% and theoretical value
predicted to be more than 30%, inorganic PV cells has
become the most great approach to reap power source
later on. In any case, the assembling cost and extremely
hard to create has become its disadvantage.
The organic cell offers the plausibility of minimal
effort manufacture on a huge size of PV cell collecting PV
energy. Aside from that, these polymer gadgets have the
adaptable capacity, for example, light weight and it is
precisely bendable. These components open up greater
probability of other PV cell application in our day by day
use. 0rganic material has been broadly researched
consistently and viewed as the answer for supplant
inorganic material to turn into a high efficiencies PV cell.
create has become its disadvantage. We presently want a
low generation cost instead of a high efficiency.
The organic cell offers the plausibility of minimal
effort manufacture on a huge size of solar cell collecting
solar energy. Aside from that, these polymer gadgets have
the adaptable capacity, for example, light weight and it is
precisely bendable. These components open up greater
probability of other solar cell application in our day by
day use. 0rganic material has been broadly researched
consistently and viewed as the answer for supplant
inorganic material to turn into a high efficiencies solar
cell. The significant contrast between silicon PV cells &
polymer PV cells is the semiconducting material utilized.
Silicon PV cells utilize crystalline silicon, while polymers
cells use carbon based natural mixes applied in a meager
layer to an engineered backing. Since Polymer PV cells
are made utilizing an ink based application & can show
straight for wardness, they as a rule bring about an
adaptable PV board that can be introduced in more
interesting manners than customary PV chips, (for
example, on dividers or as parts of windows).

E-mail:asif@poornima.org
http://journals.uob.edu.bh
 2 Mohammad AsifIqbal:TCAD Based Simulation and Performance Optimization of PPV/PCBM and
PerovskitePV cells
Both of the models forecast that an improved hole
mobility together with a decline ofthe acceptor strength of
0.5 eV will lead to a maximum attainable efficiency of
5.5% in the PPV/PCBM-based solar cells. In this paper
current-voltage (IV) characteristics of organic material
fullerene bulk heterojunction solar cells describe by
numerical simulation and modelling with the help of
TCAD tools. Bimolecular recombination and a
temperature and field dependent generation mechanism of
free charges are also presented.
As of late there has been significant enthusiasm for the
utilization of organic materials in presentation
innovations. Acknowledgment of the advantages of
inexpensive materials and preparing just as enormous
territory conformal development have additionally put
high enthusiasm for organic solutions for PVvitality
applications. Organic Solar models bulk heterojunction
(BHJ) organic solar cells utilizing the methodology of
Korster et al.[3] this model can be portrayed as pursues.
BHJ solar cells comprise of an interpenetrating blend of
giver and acceptor materials. Ingested light creates
overabundance excitons which are charge impartial and
diffuse to the acceptor-giver interface where they separate
into free electron-hole pairs.[24]
A Perovskite sharpened solar cell was reproduced
utilizing SILVACO ATLAS programming and the got
outcomes were contrasted and the exploratory
information. The recently demonstrated Perovskite
sharpened solar cell with
ITO/TiO2/Perovskite/PEDOT/Au structure by
concentrating on photogeneration, carrier separation and
photo-current creation forms gave promising outcomes
the change efficiency of 11.73% and the Fill Factor (FF)
of 70.10% under the AM1.5 conditions.[7]
2. MODELLING AND SIMULATION
A. Energy Conversion Efficiency
The energy change efficiency shouldn't be as high as
the normal cell's viability. A broad utilization of organic
solar cells could add to the expanded utilization of solar
energy universally and make sustainable power sources
user friendly.[8][9]
Figure 1.Schematic Diagram of energy flow in
Polymer PV cells
Phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) has
turned into a positive materials as it has indicated great
potential and has been broadly examined as a functioning
layer in organic solar cell dependent on mass
heterojunction idea. PPV has been the by and large used
p-type material in nearby a fullerene subordinate, PCBM
as an electron acceptor. These blends have shown a
promising result and has the most raised display to date
stood out from various materials. PPV has some
exceptional electrical and optical properties over other
Polymers PV cells including its high self-association
capacity, high holes mobility, and extended absorption in
the specific color(pink) region. Since opening is
commonly the high-mobility carrier in PPV, the upgraded
electron mobility is accomplished by expansion of
electron acceptor, PCBM.
The electrical properties of organic solar cells (OSC)
have been investigated to understand the charge loss
mechanisms impacting the overall efficiency. The power
conversion effciency of a solar cell isdependent upon the
short-circuit current density (JSC), open circuit voltage
(VOC) and the fill factor (FF).[10][11]
The model incorporates the standard float
dissemination equations (Poisson's condition and the
electron and gap continuity conditions) expanded by the
singlet exciton continuity condition:
ds
 G ph  KNRS.EXCIT ONS • S - R D np  RL np
dt (1)
where S is the singlet concentration, Gph is the
photogeneration rate, KNRS.EXCITON is the non-
radiative singlet rot rate, RDnp is the exciton separation
rate and RLnp is the Langevin recombination rate.
The equation governing the exciton dissociation is
given by:
3rL S .BINDING J I (2  2b )
RD np  exp(  )
4A.SINGLET kT  2b
(2)
Here rL is the Langevin recombination rate steady.
A.SINGLET and S.BINDING are client indicated
parameters speaking to the electron gap pair separation
http://journals.uob.edu.bh
 Int. J. Com. Dig. Sys. #, No.#, ..-.. (Mon-20..)3

and the singlet exciton binding energy, J1 is the main 

request Bessel work, S is the singlet fixation and the b J n ( x)  qU ( x)
parameter is given by:[14] x (12)

q3 E 
b J p ( x)  qU ( x)
8r o k 2T 2 x (13)
(3)
Where Jnp(x) is the electron (hole) current density and
Where E is the local electric field, εris the relative U(x) is the net generation rate, i.e., the contrast between
permativity and T the temperature. generation of free carriers and recombination of free
We likewise included a parameter, QE.EXCITON that carriers. Current densities to the transporter densities and
depicts the portion of consumed photons that generate the potential densities which join both drift and diffusion
singlets (instead of electron gap sets). For the most part of charge. [2]
this parameter ought to be relegated to one. We should
 
take note of that the majority of the optical assimilation J n  qn n   qDn n
models accessible in our Luminous simulator are x x (14)
additionally accessible in Organic Solar. These include
geometric ray tracing, c, pillar prop¬agation and limited  
contrast time space techniques. J p  qn p   qD p p
x x (15)[17]
To align this model we endeavored to repeat the test
results displayed in the Korsterpaper[4]. These whereDn,p are the carrier diffusion coefficients, which
estimations were performed on a 120 nm thick OC1C10- are assumed to follow the Einstein relation
PPV/PCBM (20:80 wt %) BHJ sun oriented cell. The au-
thors suggested the parameter values shown in Table 1. D n . p   n . p Vt
(16)
The singlet restricting vitality, S.BINDING, was not
specified however a worth under 0.4 eV was suggested.[2] Vt  k B Tlq
(17)
We picked as a benchmark to utilize 0.35 eV.
The average net generation rate
TABLE 1: SUGGESTED PARAMETER VALUES
1 L J ( L)  J n (0)
Parameter Symbol Value Units  u   0 U ( x)dx  n
L qL (18)
Band Gap Eg 1.34 eV
C. Solar cells structure: PPV-PCBM based Solar Cells
Electron
mobility μn 2.5x10-3 cm2/Vs With respect to photogeneration, the creators
recommended a constant photogeneration rate all through
Hole the gadget of 2.7x1021 cm-3s-1. Our very own figurings
mobility μp 3.0x10-4 cm2/Vs show that for complete light accumulation of AM1.5 sun
Eff. density oriented range a value of 3.6x1022 cm-3s-1 would be
of states Nc/Nv 2.5x1019 cm-3 fitting. The last worth disregards front reflections or light
going through the gadget. In view of the recommended
Relative parameter esteems we ran the recreation. Figure 2
permittivity εr 3.4 demonstrates the examination of our simulation with the
Pair distance A.SINGLET 1.3 nm introduced trial results. In spite of the fact that the short
out current is a decent match, the rest of the bend changes
Decay Rate KNRS.EXCITON 1.5x106 s-1 a considerable amount from the trial. [8]

B. Simulation of organic solar cell

Poison equation

2
( x)  n( x)  p( x)
q
x 2
 (11)
Current continuity equation

http://journals.uob.edu.bh
 4 Mohammad AsifIqbal:TCAD Based Simulation and Performance Optimization of PPV/PCBM and
PerovskitePV cells
Figure 2.Structure of a bulk heterojunction organic
solar cell
Figure 3.Organic Solar Cell comparison of
experimental - un-optimized simulated current-voltage
characteristics.
Figure. 4: VI & VP Characteristics for PPV/ PSBM
Solar cell
Figure. 5: Dark and Illuminated Characteristics for
PPV/PSBM Solar cell[19]
Figure 6.Organic Solar Cell comparison of
experimental versus optimized simulated current-voltage
characteristics.
The coupling energy has changed fairly yet we can
breathe easy in light of the way that worth utilized by
Korster et al[4] was not given. At long last we see that the
photogeneration rate was decreased to generally 58% of
the recommended worth. As for examination this appears
to be sensible since the accepted steady age rate was
presumably not estimated. In all we are very happy with
the tuning investigation and feel certain that such a
methodology can be applied to different gadgets/materials
[5]
D. Modelling And Simulation: PerovskiteHeterojunction
Solar Cell
A Perovskite sharpened PV cell was reproduced utilizing
SILVACO ATLAS programming and final outcomes
were contrasted and the exploratory information. The
recently demonstrated Perovskite sharpened PV cell with
Perovskite structure by concentrating on photogeneration,
carrier separation and photo-current creation forms gave
http://journals.uob.edu.bh
 Int. J. Com. Dig. Sys. #, No.#, ..-.. (Mon-20..)5

promising outcomes the change conversion output of

11.73% and the Fill Factor (FF) of 73% .
As of late, the perovskite-based PV cells have
pulled in incredible consideration because of their great
light-reaping attributes. These cells are promising
contender for next generation cells with ease and higher-
conversion output. We reenact a PV cell with Perovskite
structure and contrast the reproduction results and
exploratory information announced. [11]

1) Device Structure:

The perovskite senser is embedded inside the Figure 9: Perovskite sensitized solar cell charge
inherent layer which is between the TiO2- PEDOT generation and separation processes
respectively N and P type. The ingestion of episode
photons by sensitizer makes excitons (or electron-gap
sets). The 2D arrangement and Meshing structure of
reenacted PV cell are appeared in Figure 7, separately.
As the mesh is the most significant parameter in the
numerical recreation, to build the exactness of results, the
thickness of mesh ought to be high in the limits. Then
again, making a thicker mesh builds the re-enactment
time. Along these lines, as appeared in figure 1b, better
meshing is presented close to districts, for example,
junctions, material limits, and electrodes. [12]

Figure 10 :Perovskite sensitized solar cell (a) The photo-

Figure 7: Perovskite sensitized solar cell Device structure generation rate, (b) Potential

E. IV- Characteristics:

Characteristics of (J–V) execution of reproduced PV cell

with Perovskite structure under AM 1.5 daylight light
(100mW/cm2) is appeared in figure 11(a). Outside
quantum conversion output (EQE) which decides the
occurrence photon to change over electron proportion
was reproduced for Perovskite sharpened PV cell is
appeared in figure 10(b).
Figure 8: Perovskite sensitized solar cell Energy band
diagram

http://journals.uob.edu.bh
 6 Mohammad AsifIqbal:TCAD Based Simulation and Performance Optimization of PPV/PCBM and
PerovskitePV cells

4. CONCLUSION
The IV (Current-Voltage) characteristics of
Polymer/fullerene mass heterojunction (PPV/PCBM) and
Perovskite PV cells were reproduced by using the
numerical models. The polymer PV model incorporate
factors like float & stream of charge transporters, The
impact on electric field of room charge, the age factor of
the free charge bearers and temperature dependence
factor on bimolecular recombination’s. To demonstrate
and investigate about polymer / fullerene mass
heterojunction photovoltaic PV cells the proposed model
was utilized. The polymer cells can be an alternate of Si
based PV cells as the results obtained by the software
tool SILVACO TCAD very found to be good and
acceptable. We can say chose materials PPV/PCBM are
very conspicuous in light of the fact that these materials
are demonstrated acceptable electrical and optical
properties. The Perovskite material can bring a drastic
change in the field of solar cells and it also has a bright
scope in the field of future research.
REFERENCES
[1] M. A. Iqbal and A. D. D. Dwivedi, “Modelling and efficiency
analysis of ingap/gaas single junction PV cells with BSF,” Int. J.
Eng. Adv. Technol., vol. 8, no. 6, pp. 623–627, 2019, doi:
10.35940/ijeat.F8081.088619.
Figure 11: (a) The photocurrent density–voltage (J–V) [2] M. A. I. Deepak Kumar Mangal, A. D. D. Dwivedi and & S. K.
Sharma, TCAD Based Simulation and Performance Optimization
performance and (b) EQE spectra of Perovskite Solar cells of InxGa(1-X)N based Solar Cell, vol. 18, no. 3. 2018.
[3] L. J. A. Koster, E. C. P. Smits, V. D. Mihailetchi, and P. W. M.
3. RESULTS AND ANALYSIS Blom, “Device model for the operation of polymer/fullerene bulk
The outcomes got from SILVACO TCAD are very heterojunction solar cells,” Phys. Rev. B - Condens. Matter Mater.
acceptable as we take the polymer cells may be another of Phys., vol. 72, no. 8, pp. 1–9, 2005, doi:
10.1103/PhysRevB.72.085205.
Si based PV cells. We can say chose materials
[4] H. Hardeli, H. Sanjaya, R. Resikarnila, and H. R. Nitami, “Solar
PPV/PCBM are very good on the grounds that these Cell Polymer Based Active Ingredients PPV and PCBM,” IOP
materials are demonstrated acceptable electrical and Conf. Ser. Mater. Sci. Eng., vol. 335, no. 1, 2018, doi:
optical properties. Perovskite requires for center from 10.1088/1757-899X/335/1/012029.
scientists to improve their efficiencies by improved [5] Ahmed, N. M., Sauli, Z., Hashim, U., & Al-douri, Y. (2009).
advantages in terms of higher efficiency and economy. IJNeaM_2_2_7_189-195. 2, 189–195.
[6] Hameiri, Z. (2018). Photovoltaics literature survey (no. 141).
TABLE 2: RESULTS ASSOCIATED WITH PPV/PCBM Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications, 26(3),
234–238. https://doi.org/10.1002/pip.2995
Paramete Voc Jsc Vmax Imax FF η (%) [7] Mehrabian, M., & Dalir, S. (2017). 11.73% efficient perovskite
rs/ (V) (mA/c (%) heterojunction PV cell simulated by SILVACO ATLAS software.
Materials Optik, 139, 44–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijleo.2017.03.077
m2)
[8] Mohammad Asif Iqbal, “Conversion output Improvement
PPV/ 0.84 28 0.66 20. 0.5 13.3 Approach of InGaN Based PV Cell by Investigating Different
PCBM 6 2 6 3 Optical and Electrical Properties,” SSRN Electron. J., vol. 1, no. 1,
Perovskit 1.02 15.92 0.83 14. 0.7 11.7 pp. 1–9, 2019, doi: 10.2139/ssrn.3355989.
e 2 3 9 [9] Mohammad Asif Iqbal, “TCAD Based Simulation and
Performance Optimization of InxGa(1-X)N based PV Cell,” Glob.
J. Res. Eng. F Electr. Electron. Eng., vol. 19, no. 4, pp. 27–33,
2019.
[10] M. A. Iqbal, Comparative analysis between numerical simulation
of PPV/PCBM and InGaN based solar cells, Materials Today:
Proceedings, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2020.05.519

http://journals.uob.edu.bh
 Int. J. Com. Dig. Sys. #, No.#, ..-.. (Mon-20..)7

[11] M. Nawaz and A. Ahmad, “A TCAD-based modeling of

GaN/InGaN/Si solar cells,” Semicond. Sci. Technol., vol. 27, no.
3, 2012, doi: 10.1088/0268-1242/27/3/035019.
[12] X. Cai et al., “Investigation of InGaN p-i-n homojunction and
heterojunction solar cells,” IEEE Photonics Technol. Lett., vol. 25,
no. 1, pp. 59–62, 2013, doi: 10.1109/LPT.2012.2227702.

BIOGRAPHIES OF AUTHORS

Mohammad Asif Iqbal received the

M.Tech Degree in Power system with
First class from Rajasthan Technical
University, Kota India in 2014. He is a
research scholar in Department of
Electrical Engineering at Poornima
University. His research interests
include Photo detectors Materials and
Power system.

Dr. Sunil Kumar Gupta received

M.E. in Power Electronics Machine
Design & Drives from Maharshi
Dayanand University, Rohtak and
Ph.D. from the Malaviya National
Institute of Technology (MNIT),
Jaipur (INDIA) in 2006 and 2012
respectively. He has guided &
supervised several Ph.D. and Master’s
Thesis and filed multiple patents. His areas of interest include
Renewable Energy, Improved Power Quality AC-DC
converters, Power Electronics, Electrical Machines, Drives &
Dynamic Voltage restorer. Presently he is working as Associate
Dean (Research) & Prof. in Electrical Engineering and has
more than 18+ year of experience.

http://journals.uob.edu.bh