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Eu3+ doped down shifting TiO2 layer for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells
Vinod Kumar1, Sanjay Kumar Swami2, Anuj Kumar2
1Photovoltaic Laboratory, Centre for Energy Studies, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi 110016, India; Department of Physics, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa.
Journal of Colloid and Interface Science
|September 1, 2016
Summary
Europium-doped titanium dioxide (TiO2:Eu3+) nanophosphors were synthesized for energy down-conversion. These materials enhanced dye-sensitized solar cell efficiency by converting UV light to visible light.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Photochemistry
Background:
- Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a versatile material with applications in photocatalysis and solar energy.
- Enhancing solar cell efficiency requires effective light harvesting and energy conversion strategies.
- Down-shifting (DS) nanophosphors (NPrs) offer a method to convert high-energy photons into lower-energy photons, potentially improving solar cell performance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize Europium-doped TiO2 (TiO2:Eu3+) nanophosphors using a solution-combustion method.
- To investigate the structural and photoluminescent properties of TiO2:Eu3+ DS NPrs with varying Eu3+ concentrations.
- To evaluate the performance enhancement of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) using these synthesized DS NPrs.
Main Methods:
- Solution-combustion synthesis of TiO2:Eu3+ nanophosphors with controlled Eu3+ doping concentrations.
- X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis to confirm the crystal structure (polycrystalline tetragonal TiO2).
- Photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy to characterize the down-shifting properties and emission spectra.
Main Results:
- Successful synthesis of TiO2:Eu3+ DS NPrs with a polycrystalline tetragonal structure.
- Tunable emission color of the nanophosphors by adjusting the Eu3+ doping concentration.
- Demonstrated energy down-conversion: UV light converted to visible light via photoluminescence.
- Improved DSSC efficiency from 8.32% to 8.80% when incorporating the TiO2:Eu3+ DS NPrs.
Conclusions:
- The solution-combustion method is effective for synthesizing TiO2:Eu3+ DS NPrs.
- Eu3+ doping allows for tuning the down-shifting emission properties of TiO2.
- The synthesized TiO2:Eu3+ DS NPrs show potential for enhancing solar cell efficiency through improved light management.
