Y2O3/Y2O2S:Eu3+ nanocomposites were successfully prepared by reducing Y2O3:Eu3+ nanocrystals. The obtained Y2O3/Y2O2S:Eu3+ nanocomposites not only can emit enhanced red luminescence excited at 338 nm, but also can be used to improve the efficiency of the dye sensitized solar cells, resulting an efficiency of 8.38%, which is a noticeable enhancement of 12% compared to the cell without Y2O3/Y2O2S:Eu3+ nanocomposites. The results of the incident photon to current, dynamic light scattering, and diffuse reflectance spectra indicated that the enhancement of the cell efficiency was mainly related to the light scattering effect of Y2O3/Y2O2S:Eu3+ nanocomposites. As a phosphor powder, the emission at ~615 nm of Y2O3/Y2O2S:Eu3+ was split into two sub-bands. Compared with Y2O3:Eu3+, the 5D0 → 7F0 and 5D0 → 7F1 emissions of Y2O3/Y2O2S:Eu3+ showed a little red-shift.
TiO2-NaYF4:Er 3+ /Yb 3+ -C3N4 composite photoanodes were successfully designed for the first time. The photoelectric conversion efficiency of TiO2-NaYF4:Er 3+ /Yb 3+ -C3N4 composite cell can result an efficiency of 7.37%, which is higher than those of pure TiO2 cell and TiO2-C3N4 composite cell. The enhancement of the efficiency can be attributed to the synergetic effect of NaYF4:Er 3+ /Yb 3+ and C3N4. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis revealed that the interfacial resistance of the TiO2-dye|I3 − /I − electrolyte interface of TiO2-NaYF4:Er 3+ /Yb 3+ -C3N4 composites cell was much smaller than that of pure TiO2 cell. In addition, the TiO2-NaYF4:Er 3+ /Yb 3+ -C3N4 composite cell had longer electron recombination time and shorter electron transport time than that of pure TiO2 cell.
Y(OH) 3 :Eu 3+ nanotubes were synthesized using a facile hydrothermal method, and then, Pt particles were grown on the surface of the nanotubes using a combination of vacuum extraction and annealing. The resulting Pt/Y 2 O 3 :Eu 3+ composite nanotubes not only exhibited enhanced red luminescence under 255-or 468-nm excitation but could also be used to improve the efficiency of dyesensitized solar cells, resulting in an efficiency of 8.33%, which represents a significant enhancement of 11.96% compared with a solar cell without the composite nanotubes. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy results indicated that the interfacial resistance of the TiO 2 -dye|I 3 -/I -electrolyte interface of the TiO 2 -Pt/Y 2 O 3 :Eu 3+ composite cell was much smaller than that of a pure TiO2 cell. In addition, the TiO 2 -Pt/Y 2 O 3 :Eu 3+ composite cell exhibited a shorter electron transport time and longer electron recombination time than the pure TiO 2 cell.
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