Using phosphor to enhance the efficiency of commercial solar cells

Abstract

The non-rare-earth phosphor Ca2ZnMoO6 has a luminescence of 375–655 nm and emits near-white light. This study investigated it as a down-shifting layer to improve the efficiency of commercial flexible solar cells. The first structure was a solar cell/thick-film Ca2ZnMoO6 phosphor layer (TLDU device); a controlled light source was shone on the top, and UV light was shone on the bottom. The second structure was a solar cell/thick-film Ca2ZnMoO6 phosphor layer with an Al reflective layer (TLDR device), and only a controlled light source was used. We compared the power output efficiencies of the two structures with the efficiency of a control device. When the [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] properties of the three different devices were measured, the [Formula: see text] value underwent no apparent change, but the [Formula: see text] increased in the TLDU and TLDR devices. These results suggest that if placed on the bottom surface of commercial solar cells, Ca2ZnMoO6 phosphor could improve their efficiency.