In Situ Generating YVO₄:Eu³⁺,Bi³⁺ Downshifting Phosphors in SiO₂ Antireflection Coating for Efficiency Enhancement and Ultraviolet Stability of Silicon Solar Cells

Abstract

Herein, a solid strategy to prepare bifunctional SiO 2 coatings (BSCs) with both antireflection and luminescence downshifting properties by in situ generating YVO 4 :Eu 3+ ,Bi 3+ phosphors in SiO 2 antireflection coatings (ARCs) is reported. Namely, a self‐prepared precursor solution of the downshifting phosphors is added to a mixture of commercial SiO 2 sol solution and ethanol to uniformly coat the surface of quartz glass; therefore, a novel composite porous SiO 2 coating containing in situ generated YVO 4 :Eu 3+ ,Bi 3+ phosphors (labeled SiO 2 @YVO 4 :Eu 3+ ,Bi 3+ coating) is formed on the glass surface after annealing. The SiO 2 @YVO 4 :Eu 3+ ,Bi 3+ BSCs can effectively convert ultraviolet (UV) region photons to visible photons that are well absorbed by silicon solar cells and have better transmittance than pure SiO 2 ARC. As proof‐of‐concept applications, the as‐prepared optimal SiO 2 @YVO 4 :Eu 3+ ,Bi 3+ coating can effectively improve the photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) of tunnel oxide passivated contact solar cells by 0.18%abs and decrease the UV‐induced degradation value of the PCE of silicon heterojunction solar cells by 0.62%abs compared to the pure SiO 2 ARC. The results demonstrate that in situ generating luminescence downshifting phosphors in the SiO 2 ARC of photovoltaic glass is a promising way to improve the PCE and UV stability of silicon solar cells.