Simulation-Based Studies on FAGeI<sub>3</sub>-Based Lead (Pb<sup>2+</sup>)-Free Perovskite Solar Cells

In the recent reports, it is clear that lead-free perovskite materials with low band gaps are desirable candidates for photovoltaic cells. In this regard, it was observed that germanium (Ge) is a less toxic lead-free metal that is significant for the preparation of Ge-based perovskite materials. Ge-...

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Main Authors: Saood Ali, Khursheed Ahmad, Rais Ahmad Khan, Praveen Kumar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Crystals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/15/2/135
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author Saood Ali
Khursheed Ahmad
Rais Ahmad Khan
Praveen Kumar
author_facet Saood Ali
Khursheed Ahmad
Rais Ahmad Khan
Praveen Kumar
author_sort Saood Ali
collection DOAJ
description In the recent reports, it is clear that lead-free perovskite materials with low band gaps are desirable candidates for photovoltaic cells. In this regard, it was observed that germanium (Ge) is a less toxic lead-free metal that is significant for the preparation of Ge-based perovskite materials. Ge-based perovskite materials, for example, methyl ammonium germanium iodide (MAGeI<sub>3</sub>), cesium germanium iodide (CsGeI<sub>3</sub>), and/or formamidinium germanium iodide (FAGeI<sub>3</sub>) may be the suitable absorber materials and alternatives towards the fabrication of lead-free photovoltaic cells. In the past few years, few attempts were made to develop FAGeI<sub>3</sub>-based perovskite solar cells, but their photovoltaic performance is still under limitations. This is indicating that some significant and effective strategies should be designed and developed for the construction of Ge-based perovskite solar cells. It is believed that optimization of layer thickness, device structure, and selection of a suitable electron transport layer (ETL) may improve the photovoltaic performance of FAGeI<sub>3</sub>-based perovskite solar cells. Solar cell capacitance simulation, i.e., SCAPS is one of the promising software programs that can provide significant theoretical findings for the development of FAGeI<sub>3-</sub>based perovskite solar cells. The simulation studies via SCAPS may benefit researchers to save their energy and high cost for the optimization process in the laboratories. In this research article, SCAPS was adopted as a simulation tool for the theoretical investigations of FAGeI<sub>3-</sub>based perovskite solar cells. The simulation studies exhibited the excellent efficiency of 15.62% via SCAPS. This study proposed the optimized device structure of FTO/TiO<sub>2</sub>/FAGeI<sub>3</sub>/PTAA/Au with enhanced photovoltaic performance.
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spelling doaj-art-5d00c83f4b9c4fbda4f80c8506f30c9c2025-08-20T02:44:59ZengMDPI AGCrystals2073-43522025-01-0115213510.3390/cryst15020135Simulation-Based Studies on FAGeI<sub>3</sub>-Based Lead (Pb<sup>2+</sup>)-Free Perovskite Solar CellsSaood Ali0Khursheed Ahmad1Rais Ahmad Khan2Praveen Kumar3School of Mechanical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of KoreaSchool of Materials Science and Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi ArabiaDepartment of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Indore, Simrol 600036, MP, IndiaIn the recent reports, it is clear that lead-free perovskite materials with low band gaps are desirable candidates for photovoltaic cells. In this regard, it was observed that germanium (Ge) is a less toxic lead-free metal that is significant for the preparation of Ge-based perovskite materials. Ge-based perovskite materials, for example, methyl ammonium germanium iodide (MAGeI<sub>3</sub>), cesium germanium iodide (CsGeI<sub>3</sub>), and/or formamidinium germanium iodide (FAGeI<sub>3</sub>) may be the suitable absorber materials and alternatives towards the fabrication of lead-free photovoltaic cells. In the past few years, few attempts were made to develop FAGeI<sub>3</sub>-based perovskite solar cells, but their photovoltaic performance is still under limitations. This is indicating that some significant and effective strategies should be designed and developed for the construction of Ge-based perovskite solar cells. It is believed that optimization of layer thickness, device structure, and selection of a suitable electron transport layer (ETL) may improve the photovoltaic performance of FAGeI<sub>3</sub>-based perovskite solar cells. Solar cell capacitance simulation, i.e., SCAPS is one of the promising software programs that can provide significant theoretical findings for the development of FAGeI<sub>3-</sub>based perovskite solar cells. The simulation studies via SCAPS may benefit researchers to save their energy and high cost for the optimization process in the laboratories. In this research article, SCAPS was adopted as a simulation tool for the theoretical investigations of FAGeI<sub>3-</sub>based perovskite solar cells. The simulation studies exhibited the excellent efficiency of 15.62% via SCAPS. This study proposed the optimized device structure of FTO/TiO<sub>2</sub>/FAGeI<sub>3</sub>/PTAA/Au with enhanced photovoltaic performance.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/15/2/135FAGeI<sub>3</sub>perovskite solar cellselectron transport layersimulationSCAPS-1D
spellingShingle Saood Ali
Khursheed Ahmad
Rais Ahmad Khan
Praveen Kumar
Simulation-Based Studies on FAGeI<sub>3</sub>-Based Lead (Pb<sup>2+</sup>)-Free Perovskite Solar Cells
Crystals
FAGeI<sub>3</sub>
perovskite solar cells
electron transport layer
simulation
SCAPS-1D
title Simulation-Based Studies on FAGeI<sub>3</sub>-Based Lead (Pb<sup>2+</sup>)-Free Perovskite Solar Cells
title_full Simulation-Based Studies on FAGeI<sub>3</sub>-Based Lead (Pb<sup>2+</sup>)-Free Perovskite Solar Cells
title_fullStr Simulation-Based Studies on FAGeI<sub>3</sub>-Based Lead (Pb<sup>2+</sup>)-Free Perovskite Solar Cells
title_full_unstemmed Simulation-Based Studies on FAGeI<sub>3</sub>-Based Lead (Pb<sup>2+</sup>)-Free Perovskite Solar Cells
title_short Simulation-Based Studies on FAGeI<sub>3</sub>-Based Lead (Pb<sup>2+</sup>)-Free Perovskite Solar Cells
title_sort simulation based studies on fagei sub 3 sub based lead pb sup 2 sup free perovskite solar cells
topic FAGeI<sub>3</sub>
perovskite solar cells
electron transport layer
simulation
SCAPS-1D
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/15/2/135
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AT raisahmadkhan simulationbasedstudiesonfageisub3subbasedleadpbsup2supfreeperovskitesolarcells
AT praveenkumar simulationbasedstudiesonfageisub3subbasedleadpbsup2supfreeperovskitesolarcells