Journal
PHYSICA STATUS SOLIDI A-APPLICATIONS AND MATERIALS SCIENCE
Volume 214, Issue 8, Pages -Publisher
WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH
DOI: 10.1002/pssa.201600899
Keywords
CaTiO3; energy transfer; erbium; photon upconversion; Ni2(+)-sensitization; solar cells
Funding
- Advanced Low Carbon Technology Research and Development Program (ALCA), Japan Science and Technology Agency
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We have realized broadband-sensitive upconversion (UC) in CaTiO3:Er3+,Ni2+ that can harvest 1060-1630nm photons, which are not utilized by present crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar cells, and upconvert to 980nm. The Ni2+ sensitizers absorb 1060-1450nm photons and efficiently transfer the energies to the Er3+ emitters. In addition to 1450-1630nm photons that are directly absorbed by the Er3+ ions, 1060-1450nm photons are also upconverted to 980nm by the Er3+, Ni2+ codoped upconverter, leading to a more remarkably enhanced conversion efficiency of c-Si solar cells compared to conventional Er3+-only doped upconverters. Codoping with Nb5+ to compensate for the charge imbalance caused by the Ni2+ doping at the Ti4+ sites intensified the UC emission. Similarly, charge imbalance caused by the Er3+ doping at the Ca2+ sites was compensated by codoping with alkali ions (Li+, Na+, K+), resulting in a significant improvement in the UC emission intensity. Nearly 6.5-fold intense UC emission was realized in the newly developed CaTiO3:Er,Ni upconverter compared to the previously reported CaZrO3:Er,Ni one. It is explained on the basis of higher NiEr energy transfer efficiency and a more efficient Er3+ UC emission. If these upconverters are applied at the rear-face of a bifacial c-Si solar cell, approximate to 4.8% absolute efficiency improvement is possible.
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