Down-shifting by energy transfer in Dy3+–Tb3+ co-doped YF3-based sol–gel nano-glass-ceramics for photovoltaic applications

Highly transparent sol–gel derived nano-glass-ceramics containing YF3 nanocrystals doped with Dy3+ or Tb3+ and co-doped with Dy3+–Tb3+ have been successfully developed. A structural analysis and luminescence spectra features confirmed the incorporation of rare-earth ions into precipitated YF3 nanocrystals, where efficient energy transfer from Dy3+ to Tb3+ takes place. Higher efficiency is obtained with increasing Tb3+ concentration, and no quenching effects are observed. Observed luminescence features leads the way to enhance solar cell spectral response by down-shifting of the incident solar spectrum, with an extended absorption range from 300 to 500 nm, yielding to a predominant green emission by co-doping with Dy3+ and Tb3+ ions.

Research highlights
► Highly transparent sol-gel derived nano-glass-ceramics containing YF3 nanocrystals.
► Efficient energy transfer from Dy3+ to Tb3+ ions inside YF3 nanocrystals.
► Enhancing solar cell spectral response by down-shifting of incident solar spectrum.