Trivalent rare-earth ions as photon down-shifter for photovoltaic applications

Franziska Steudel; Sebastian Loos; Bernd Ahrens; Stefan Schweizer

doi:10.1117/12.2052185

15 May 2014 Trivalent rare-earth ions as photon down-shifter for photovoltaic applications

Franziska Steudel, Sebastian Loos, Bernd Ahrens, Stefan Schweizer

Proceedings Volume 9140, Photonics for Solar Energy Systems V; 91400I (2014) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2052185
Event: SPIE Photonics Europe, 2014, Brussels, Belgium

Abstract

Rare-earth doped borate glasses are investigated for their potential as photon down-shifting cover glass for CdTe solar cells. Note, that CdTe solar cells have a poor response in the ultraviolet and blue spectral range due to absorption in the CdS buffer layer having a band gap of 2.4 eV. The following trivalent rare-earth ions are analyzed in detail: Sm³⁺, Eu³⁺, and Tb³⁺. These ions provide strong absorption bands in the ultraviolet / blue spectral range and an intense emission in the red (Sm³⁺ and Eu³⁺) or green (Tb³⁺) spectral range. The gain in short-circuit current density of a CdTe solar cell is calculated for different rare-earth ion concentrations. The calculations are based on the rare-earth’s absorption coefficients as well as their photoluminescence (PL) quantum efficiency. For Sm³⁺, the PL quantum efficiency depends significantly on the doping concentration. Finally, the potential of double-doped borate glasses, i.e. glasses doped with two different rare-earth ions, is investigated.

Citation Download Citation

Franziska Steudel, Sebastian Loos, Bernd Ahrens, and Stefan Schweizer "Trivalent rare-earth ions as photon down-shifter for photovoltaic applications", Proc. SPIE 9140, Photonics for Solar Energy Systems V, 91400I (15 May 2014); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2052185

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