Enhancing photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cell by rare-earth doped oxide of Lu2O3:(Tm3+, Yb3+)

► Tm3+/Yb3+ codoped oxide is introduced into the TiO2 film in dye-sensitized solar cell. ► The RE improves light harvest via conversion luminescence and increases photocurrent. ► The RE elevates the oxide film energy level and increases the cell photovoltage. ► The cell efficiency is increased by 11.1% compared to the cell lacking of RE doping.