Enhancement of up-conversion efficiency by combining rare earth-doped phosphors with PbS quantum dots

Abstract

This paper aims to enhance the up-conversion phenomena observed in silicon solar cells by combining a rare-earth doped phosphor with PbS quantum dots. Two different ways of adhering the up-converter and the fluorescent material to a bifacial solar cell are implemented: dissolving the powder in a spin-on oxide and by dissolving it in a silicone gel. Characterization is carried out through photocurrent and photoluminescence measurements. The improvement in photocurrent detected by the combination of the up-converter and the PbS quantum dots is 60% better than without them, demonstrating that the absorption and emission characteristics of the quantum dots embedded both in the oxide or the silicone can be tuned into [ul]the desired spectral región.

Optimizing infrared to near infrared upconversion quantum yield of β-NaYF4:Er3+ in fluoropolymer matrix for photovoltaic devices

“…21 Both of these power density values are much higher than those used for PV applications. However, using the optimized Er 3þ dopant and phosphor concentration and an ideal matrix in conjunction with broadband excitation and emerging technologies (such as spectral concentration using quantum dots, 35 or photonic structures, 36 or near field enhancement using plasmonic structures 37,38 ) would significantly improve efficiencies of low-power solar upconversion. This would make achieving a single-junction solar cell with efficiency beyond the Shockley-Queisser limit a reality.…”

Enhanced Luminescence, Collective Heating, and Nanothermometry in an Ensemble System Composed of Lanthanide‐Doped Upconverting Nanoparticles and Gold Nanorods

“…Fluoride-based materials, including NaGdF 4 -doped with Yb 3+ and Er 3+ (or Tm 3+ ), are among the most used compositions due to their high upconversion emission. Good examples are the use of organic dyes or quantum dots to act as antennas for the excitation light, [ 12,13 ] or the use of core/shell systems using either inert or active shells. [ 10,11 ] In the quest for schemes to further enhance the upconversion process, several ideas have been proposed.…”

Efficient 974 nm emission through up-conversion in Er<inf>x</inf>Yb<inf>2&#x2212;x</inf>Si<inf>2</inf>O<inf>7</inf> thin films for Si solar cells

“…The second issue is the weak and narrow absorption band of Er 3+ in the infrared region, compared with solar spectrum. This condition could be improved by combination of the up-converter and the quantum dots, which absorb strongly in infrared region and transfer the energy to rare earth ions [8].…”