Applied Physics Letters · 2004 · 686 citations · 4 references
EngineeringMaterials EngineeringMaterials ScienceOptical MaterialsOptoelectronicsSemiconductor MaterialsOptoelectronic DevicesOptoelectronic MaterialsPhotovoltaic DevicesSolar Cell MaterialsSolar CellsUpconversion MaterialsEnergy TransferExternal Quantum EfficiencyInternal Quantum EfficiencyLight IntensityPhosphorsQuantum EfficiencyShort-circuit CurrentSilicon Solar Cells
Erbium-doped sodium yttrium fluoride (NaYF4:Er3+) up-conversion phosphors were attached to the rear of a bifacial silicon solar cell to enhance its reponsivity in the near-infrared. The incident wavelength and light intensity were varied and the resulting short circuit current of the solar cell was measured. A close match between the spectral features of the external quantum efficiency and the phosphor absorption is consistent with the energy transfer up-conversion process. The peak external quantum efficiency of the silicon solar cell was measured to be (2.5±0.2)% under 5.1 mW laser excitation at 1523 nm, corresponding to an internal quantum efficiency of 3.8%.
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