Characteristics of n-Cu₂O/p-CuI Solid-state Photovoltaic Cells

n-Cu₂O/p-CuI junction photoelectrode was fabricated on a copper sheet to make a solid state photovoltaic cell. A photocurrent enhancement was found for the junction photoelectrode, because of the efficient charge separation process operated at the junction compared to the solar cells fabricated from bare semiconductor thin films. Mainly, the photocurrent was generated due to the band to band electron transitions of n-Cu₂O films in the junction photoelectrode. Optical absorption properties photocurrent action spectra of the materials were studied to explain the photocurrent generation of the solar cell. It was found that the sample was highly stable with time under illumination of light. Power conversion efficiency was reached nearly 2.4% for n-Cu₂O/p-CuI junction photo-electrode.