Defect density analysis of WOx and MoOx thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition for heterojunction solar cell applications

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the optical and electronic properties of thin films of molybdenum oxide and tungsten oxide to implement hole-selective contact for heterojunction solar cells. These contacts are currently viewed as an alternative for making doping-free solar cells. However, the spreading of this technology is still limited, due to the development of S-shaped J–V curves which affect the electrical performance of the cells and further optimization in the material deposition process is therefore crucial to overcome these challenges. To improve transition metal oxide-based heterojunction technology, this work investigates the impact of oxygen vacancies on electrical performance, particularly their role in S-shaped J–V curves. Defect density evaluation through non-destructive techniques like photothermal deflection spectroscopy together with a detailed experimental characterization is presented in this paper to highlight the structural and optical properties of the films. Prototypes of solar cells incorporating hole-selective contacts with tungsten and molybdenum oxide are prepared to show the S-shaped J-V characteristics under AM 1.5 illumination. An equivalent circuit modeling was used for understanding the electrical characteristics of the prototypes. Furthermore, this approach offers insights into the optimization of the devices performances.