Dual functions of YF3:Eu3+ for improving photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cells

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 3; no. 1; p. 2058
• Main Authors: Wu, Jihuai, Wang, Jiangli, Lin, Jianming, Xiao, Yaoming, Yue, Gentian, Huang, Miaoliang, Lan, Zhang, Huang, Yunfang, Fan, Leqing, Yin, Shu, Sato, Tsugio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 24.06.2013; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 639/301/119/1000; 639/301/299/946; 639/624/1075/524; 639/638/439/943; Dyes; Humanities and Social Sciences; Luminescence; multidisciplinary; Photons; Photovoltaic cells; Science; Yttrium
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/srep02058

In order to enhance the photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC), a novel design is demonstrated by introducing rare-earth compound europium ion doped yttrium fluoride (YF 3 :Eu 3+ ) in TiO 2 film in the DSSC. As a conversion luminescence medium, YF 3 :Eu 3+ transfers ultraviolet light to visible light via down-conversion and increases incident harvest and photocurrent of DSSC. As a p-type dopant, Eu 3+ elevates the Fermi level of TiO 2 film and thus heightens photovoltage of the DSSC. The conversion luminescence and p-type doping effect are demonstrated by photoluminescence spectra and Mott-Schottky plots. When the ratio of YF 3 :Eu 3+ /TiO 2 in the doping layer is optimized as 5 wt.%, the light-to-electric energy conversion efficiency of the DSSC reaches 7.74%, which is increased by 32% compared to that of the DSSC without YF 3 :Eu 3+ doping. Double functions of doped rare-earth compound provide a new route for enhancing the photovoltaic performance of solar cells.