The heat dissipation has been rarely investigated in solar cells although it has a significant impact on their performance and reliability. For the first time, an extended three-dimensional (3-D) simulation of heat distribution in perovskite solar cells is presented here. We use COMSOL Multiphysics to investigate the temperature distribution in conventional perovskite solar cells through a coupled optical–electrical–thermal modules. Wave optics module, semiconductor module, and heat transfer in solid module are coupled in COMSOL Multiphysics package to perform the simulation in 3-D wizard. The electrical behavior, optical absorption, and heat conduction or convection are considered to gain insight into heat dissipation across the cell. The simulation results suggest that the heat produced in the cell is best dissipated from the metallic contact where the PbI $_2$ defect forms because of oxidation or decomposition of the perovskite layer at moisture exposure. The generated heat varies significantly from the front FTO contact to bottom metallic electrode. The more heat dissipation and accumulation is observed at the junction and electrode sides too. In our simulations, we consider the Joule heating, nonradiative recombination heating, and heat flux in every layer of the cell and calculate the carrier’s concentration, electric field distribution, Joule heating, Shockley–Read–Hall heating, total heat flux, and temperature distribution across the solar cell structure. The simulations reveal that the metallic contact must be selected as a highly heat conductive material in order to accelerate the heat dissipation on the bottom of the cell and to enhance the cell reliability against temperature increase under normal operation.

The Cu $_2$ ZnSnS $_x$ Se $_{4-x}$ (CZTSSe) thin-film solar cells have attracted the attention of researchers due to its earth-abundant composition containing Copper, Zinc, Tin and Sulfur, and Selenide with 12.6% record efficiency (2013-IBM). A 3-D simulation analysis is presented here on the optical, electrical, and thermal characteristics of CZTSSe solar cell using COMSOL multiphysics 3-D simulation package. COMSOL is capable of calculating the optical–electrical–thermal models through electromagnetic wave, semiconductor, and heat transfer modules for a finely meshed structure. Using this capability, we have calculated the optical photogeneration rate of the a Mo/Mo(S,Se) $_2$ /CZTSSe/CdS/ZnO/ITO/air structure by inserting the refractive index and extinction coefficient of every layer in Wave optic module in COMSOL. We also calculated the total optical generation rate for two structures with and without Mo(S,Se) $_2$ layer at the junction of Mo and CZTSSe layers. The current–voltage curve, electric field profile, and the recombination rate of the cell has also been calculated by Semiconductor module coupled to wave optic module. The current–voltage characteristics show an improvement in $V_{\text{oc}}$ for the cell with Mo(S,Se) $_2$ layer (0.46 to 0.513 V) which was also suggested by IBM for a record cell efficiency. Finally, the thermal maps of the cell has been calculated by heat transfer module coupled to semiconductor module considering the Shockley–Read–Hall (SRH) recombination heat, Joule Heat, and conductive heat flux. The total heat flux magnitude of the cell was also mapped as a result out of these heat generation and cooling sources. The SRH heat is maximum within the depletion width at the CZTSSe/CdS interface, whereas the Joule heating is intensive at the Mo/Mo(S,Se) $_2$ /CZTSSe side. Interesting is to see that the heat is mainly conducted to environment from Mo side presented by the conductive heat map. The total heat flux is intensive at both top and bottom interfaces which means the heat is generated at both top and bottom sides of the cells and not only from the illuminated part.

Sustainability is becoming more and more important as a decision attribute in the manufacturing environment. However, quantitative metrics for all the aspects of the triple bottom line are difficult to assess. Within the present paper, the sustainability metrics are considered in tandem with other traditional manufacturing metrics such as time, flexibility, and quality and a novel framework is presented that integrates information and requirements from Computer-Aided Technologies (CAx) systems. A novel tool is outlined for considering a number of key performance indicators related to the triple bottom line when deciding the most appropriate process route. The implemented system allows the assessment of alternative process plans considering the market demands and available resources.