Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-20T02:30:13.305Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

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]
Get access

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.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2012

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

[1] Kumar, G. A., et al. ., “Intense visible and near infrared upconversion in M2O2S: Er (M=Y, Gd, La) phosphor under 1550 nm excitation,” Mat. Lett., vol. 68, pp. 395398, 2012.10.1016/j.matlet.2011.10.087Google Scholar
[2] Kumar, G. A., et al. ., “Synthesis and spectroscopy of color tunable Y2O2S: Yb3+, Er3+ phosphors with intense emission,” J. Alloys and Compd., vol. 513, pp. 559565, 2012.10.1016/j.jallcom.2011.11.006Google Scholar
[3] Becker, P. C., et al. . (1999). Erbium-doped fiber amplifiers fundamentals and technology. Available:10.1016/B978-012084590-3/50007-7Google Scholar
[4] Chen, W., Doped nanomaterials and nanodevices. Stevenson Ranch, Calif.: American Scientific Publishers, 2010.Google Scholar
[5] Pokhrel, M., et al. ., “Optical characterization of Er3+and Yb3+ co-doped barium fluorotellurite glass,” J. Lum. in press(2012) Google Scholar
[6] Pokhrel, M., et al. ., “Infrared and upconversion spectroscopic studies of high Er3+content transparent YAG ceramic,” Opt. Mater. Express, vol. 1, pp. 12721285, 2011.10.1364/OME.1.001272Google Scholar
[7] Trupke, T., et al. ., “Improving solar cell efficiencies by up-conversion of sub-band-gap light,” J. App. Phys., vol. 92, pp. 41174122, 2002.10.1063/1.1505677Google Scholar
[8] Fischer, S., et al. ., “Enhancement of silicon solar cell efficiency by upconversion: Optical and electrical characterization,” J. App. Phys., vol. 108, pp. 044912–11, 2010.10.1063/1.3478742Google Scholar
[9] Shalav, A., et al. ., “Luminescent layers for enhanced silicon solar cell performance: Up-conversion,” Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, vol. 91, pp. 829842, 2007.10.1016/j.solmat.2007.02.007Google Scholar
[10] Bünzli, J.-C. G. and Eliseeva, S. V., “Lanthanide NIR luminescence for telecommunications, bioanalyses and solar energy conversion,” Journal of Rare Earths, vol. 28, pp. 824842, 2010.10.1016/S1002-0721(09)60208-8Google Scholar
[11] Goldschmidt, J. C., et al. ., “Experimental analysis of upconversion with both coherent monochromatic irradiation and broad spectrum illumination,” Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, vol. 95, pp. 19601963, 2011.10.1016/j.solmat.2011.01.019Google Scholar
[12] Ozawa, L., “Preparation of Y2O2S: Eu Phosphor Particles of Different Sizes by a Flux Method,” Journal of The Electrochemical Society, vol. 124, pp. 413417, 1977.10.1149/1.2133314Google Scholar
[13] Chen, L., et al. ., “Preparation and spectroscopic properties of nanostructured glass-ceramics containing Yb3+, Er3+ ions and Co2+-doped spinel nanocrystals,” Solid State Sciences, vol. 14, pp. 287290, 2012.10.1016/j.solidstatesciences.2011.11.034Google Scholar