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Rare Earth Based Upconverting Materials for Solar Cell Application

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 July 2012

Madhab Pokhrel*
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78249-0697, USA
G. A. Kumar
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78249-0697, USA
Dhiraj K. Sardar
Affiliation:
Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78249-0697, USA
*
*corresponding Author: [email protected]
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Abstract

Basic spectroscopic studies of Yb and Er-doped M2O2S (M= Gd, La,Y) phosphor was reported with particular attention to its upconversion properties under 1550 nm excitation. Since the absorption spectra of Co2+overlaps with Er3+(4I13/24I15/2) at near infrared (NIR) region, we are proposing the concept of an efficiency enhancement of infrared upconverting phosphors as an energy converting material that could potentially improve the efficiency of Si solar cells in bifacial configuration. Different concentrations of Er3+/Co2+ phosphors were synthesized by solid state flux fusion method. The phosphor powders were well crystallized in a hexagonal shape with an average size 4 mm. Preliminary upconversion analysis of singly Er3+ and doubly Co2+/Er3+ doped Y2O2S under 980 and 1550 nm excitation indicates that the composition has to be optimized to understand the role of Co2+ in the system.

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Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2012

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References

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