Down-conversion Photoluminescence Properties of YVO4: Eu3+@SiO2 Core-shell Structures for Solar Cell Applications

doi:10.15541/jim20160040

Abstract

Abstract:

Europium ions doped yttrium vanadate (YVO₄: Eu³⁺) has excellent emission properties for down-conversion applications. However, the serious surface defects of YVO₄: Eu³⁺ hinder the improvement of luminescent efficiency. In order to improve the particle size distribution and morphology of YVO₄: Eu³⁺ nano-powders, mono-dispersed spherical YVO₄: Eu³⁺@SiO₂ core-shell structure materials were prepared by coating a layer of YVO₄: Eu³⁺onto the surface of SiO₂ microspheres. With the shell-core ratio setting as 0.6, the luminescence intensity of YVO₄: Eu³⁺@SiO₂core-shell structure composite could reach up to more than 90% of pure YVO₄: Eu³⁺ nano-powder. Furthermore, the prepared YVO₄: Eu³⁺@SiO₂ core-shell structure films were used as down-conversion materials for amorphous silicon thin film solar cells. The cell parameters such as short current density and photoelectric conversion efficiency increased from original 6.694 mA/cm² and 9.40% to 8.417 mA/cm² and 10.15%, respectively. Thus YVO₄: Eu³⁺@SiO₂ core-shell configuration can be fabricated from YVO₄: Eu³⁺ and SiO₂ microsphere to avoid agglomeration. The prepared YVO₄: Eu³⁺@SiO₂ core-shell structures have regular morphology and uniform particle sizes, which are suitable to be used as down-conversion light emitting layer in amorphous silicon solar cells.

Key words: yttrium vanadate, core-shell structure, solar cell, down-conversion

CLC Number:

TB303

TAN Man-Lin, SHANG Xu-Ran, MA Qing, WANG Xiao-Wei, FU Dong-Ju, LI Dong-Shuang, ZHANG Wei-Li, CHEN Jian-Jun, ZHANG Hua-Yu. Down-conversion Photoluminescence Properties of YVO₄: Eu³⁺@SiO₂ Core-shell Structures for Solar Cell Applications[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2016, 31(10): 1110-1116.

Figures/Tables 10

Fig. 1 SEM images of SiO2 microspheres and YVO4: Eu3+@SiO2 core-shell structure powders (a) SiO2 microsphere; (b, c) Shell-core ratio setting as 0.2; (d) Shell- core ratio setting as 0.6

Fig. 2 XRD patterns of (a) SiO2 microsphere, (b) YVO4: Eu3+@SiO2 core-shell structure and (c) YVO4: Eu3+

Fig. 3 Fourier transformed infrared spectra of (a) SiO2 microsphere, (b) YVO4: Eu3+@SiO2 core-shell structure and (c) YVO4: Eu3+

Fig. 4 Photoluminescence spectra of YVO4: Eu3+ and YVO4: Eu3+@SiO2

Fig. 5 Photoluminescence peak intensity (619 nm) of 5D0→7 F2 for YVO4: Eu3+@SiO2 with different shell-core ratios

Fig.6 Amorphous silicon solar cell with down-conversion emission layer (a) Cell configuration; (b) Optical path

Fig. 7 Transmittance curves of down-conversion emission films with different weight percents of YVO4: Eu3+ (a) 4wt%; (b) 6wt%; (c) 8wt%; (d) 10wt%

Fig. 8 Current-voltage characteristics of amorphous silicon solar cells with down-conversion emission layers

Table 1 Photoelectric parameters of the fabricated amorphous silicon (a-Si) solar cells

Sample	V_oc/V	J_sc/ (mA·cm^-2)	FF	η/%
Common a-Si solar cell	0.650	6.694	0.736	9.40
YVO₄: Eu³⁺	0.652	7.843	0.773	9.89
YVO₄: Eu³⁺@SiO₂	0.652	8.417	0.781	10.15

Fig.9 External quantum efficiency curves of amorphous silicon solar cells with down-conversion emission layers

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Down-conversion Photoluminescence Properties of YVO₄: Eu³⁺@SiO₂ Core-shell Structures for Solar Cell Applications

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