Study of Magnesium-Dopped Zinc Oxide Thin Films for Pb-Free PSCs Application

Abstract

Zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films are widely used in various types of solar cells; however, there are notable limitations, such as low electron mobility and surface defects, which affect the stability and efficiency of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). This study investigates the impact of magnesium (Mg) doping on the characteristics of ZnO thin films, prepared by spin coating, with the aim of enhancing PSC performance and stability. The films were characterized utilizing UV-Vis spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and Hall Effect measurements. Additionally, the full device was simulated based on parameters obtained experimentally. We propose a novel Pb-free PSC and analyzed its performance utilizing both ZnO and ZnO:Mg thin films, as the electron transport layer. The results indicate that Mg doping enhances the electro-optical properties of ZnO, improving device efficiency to 21.83%. These advantageous effects of Mg doping mark a significant step toward achieving high-efficiency, durable photovoltaic devices, and advancing sustainable energy applications.