Near-infrared sunlight harvesting in dye-sensitized solar cells via the insertion of an upconverter-TiO₂ nanocomposite layer.
Er(3+),Yb(3+) co-doped LaF₃-TiO₂ nanocomposites (UC-TiO₂) are inserted as a middle layer in a novel tri-layer photoanode design (see Figure) of a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). The Er(3+),Yb(3+) co-doped LaF₃ part of the nanocomposite helps capture near-infrared (NIR) light by converting it into visible light absorbable by the dye hence opening the road for the development of DSSCs with higher conversion efficiency and photocurrent output.
Shan
Guo-Bin
GB
Department of Materials Engineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2B2, Canada.
Demopoulos
George P
GP
D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000737:chemistry*; D011211:Electric Power Supplies; D007259:Infrared Rays; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008968:Molecular Conformation; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*; D012993:Solar Energy; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*
D004396:Coloring Agents; C009495:titanium dioxide; D014025:Titanium