Near infrared up-conversion in organic photovoltaic devices using an efficient Yb3+:Ho3+ Co-doped Ln2BaZnO5 (Ln = Y, Gd) phosphor

Abstract

A novel and compact nanoindentation device for in situ nanoindentation tests inside the scanning electron microscope AIP Advances 2, 012104 (2012) Invited Review Article: Photopyroelectric calorimeter for the simultaneous thermal, optical, and structural characterization of samples over phase transitions Rev. Sci. Instrum. 82, 121101 (2011) Nanometer optomechanical transistor based on nanometer cavity optomechanics with a single quantum dot J. Appl. Phys. 110, 114308 (2011) Breakover mechanism of GaAs photoconductive switch triggering spark gap for high power applications J. Appl. Phys. 110, 094507 (2011) Additional information on J. Appl. Phys. co-doped Y 2 BaZnO 5 near-infrared up-converting phosphors with organic photovoltaic devices is reported. We show that it is possible to obtain a J sc of 16 lA cm À2 under 986 nm illumination ($390 mW cm À2 corresponding to $37 suns) leading to an up-conversion external quantum efficiency (g UC EQE ) of 0.0052%. Through modification of the organic photovoltaic devices to incorporate transparent electrodes we show that g UC EQE could be increased to 0.031 %, matching that achieved in amorphous-Si:H PV cells. Accounting for the full spectral range that may be absorbed by the phosphor ($870-1030 nm) yields an up-conversion power conversion efficiency (g UC PCE ) of 0.073% which again could be improved to 0.45% using transparent electrodes. This technique for utilizing the near-infrared spectral region may therefore offer a potential route to improving the performance of organic photovoltaic devices as research into discovering high-efficiency up-converting phosphors continues to provide improved materials. V C 2012 American Institute of Physics.

Fabrication of polythiophene–TiO2 heterojunction solar cells coupled with upconversion nanoparticles

“…Lanthanide-doped NaYF 4 nanoparticles with core-shell structure have evidently enhanced the overall performance of a dye-sensitized solar cell [13]. Also, the researches which focus on the application of UCNP in the polymer-PCBM solar cells have been carried out [14,15]. Wu et al [14] have investigated the upconversion effects on the photocurrents and efficiencies of a P3HT-PCBM solar cell.…”

“…Wu et al [14] have investigated the upconversion effects on the photocurrents and efficiencies of a P3HT-PCBM solar cell. Adikaari et al [15] have synthesized the Yb 3? and Ho 3?…”

“…The capability of harvesting solar photons considerably determines the performance of the photovoltaic cells [10]. The devices comprising the silicon cells, the dye-sensitized cells, the polymer-PCBM and the polymer-nanocrystals heterojunction solar cells, encounter with spectral mismatch [12][13][14][15], thereby leading to loss of energy. The upconversion materials which possess the optical property of converting long-wavelength photons into shorter ones [16][17][18], gives rise to a promising method to harvest the solar energy.…”

Experimental demonstration of plasmon enhanced energy transfer rate in NaYF4:Yb3+,Er3+ upconversion nanoparticles

“…For some applications such as solar cell and biomedical imaging, nanometer size upconversion particles are required. With the reduced size, the overall luminescence efficiency decreases dramatically due to the more severe quenching to surface defects11. Plasmonics offer a promising avenue to overcome this problem and achieve high efficiency.…”

Increased upconversion performance for thin film solar cells: a trimolecular composition

“…9,10 However, these UC systems suffer from very weak absorption due to their Laporte-forbidden optical transitions, and very narrow atomic absorption lines. 11 Applications of SPA-UC systems to PV devices based on gallium arsenide, 12 crystalline silicon, 13–18 hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H), 19,20 dye-sensitized solar cells (DSC) 21–23 and organic photovoltaic materials 24 have been demonstrated, but in consequence they mostly require relatively high solar concentration to achieve measurable current enhancement. Recently, researchers have been able to broaden the absorption range of SPA materials through the attachment of organic dyes acting as antennae, 25 or to increase their absorption by exploiting plasmonic resonances in metallic nanostructures.…”