Efficiency Improvement of Dye-sensitized Solar Cells by Phosphor (Y₂O₃:Er³⁺, Y₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce³⁺) Co-doped TiO₂ Electrodes

Abstract

Generally, the (N-719) dye used in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) only absorbs visible light in the wavelength range from 400 to 700 nm. Most of the ultraviolet and infrared rays from the sun are not utilized by this dye. However, ultraviolet and infrared rays can be converted to visible light by upconversion luminescence. Such visible light can then be reabsorbed by the dye, allowing for a greater range of solar irradiation to be utilized in DSSCs. A mixed phosphor of Y₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce³⁺ and Y₂O₃:Er³⁺, acting as luminescence medium, was added to the TiO₂ electrode of DSSCs, increasing the photocurrent density and efficiency as a result of the upconversion. The Y₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce³⁺/Y₂O₃:Er³⁺ phosphor-co-doped TiO₂ electrode cells showed better performance than the phosphor-free cells. In this paper, we describe the characterization of DSSCs containing the mixed Y₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce³⁺/Y₂O₃:Er³⁺ phosphor and discuss the enhanced efficiencies of the DSSCs as compared with those of phosphor-free cells.

Keywords:

• DSSCs
• TiO₂
• Phosphor
• Phosphor-mixed DSSC

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Human Resources Development program (No.20124030200010) of the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning(KETEP) grant funded by the Korea government Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy. This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) Grant Funded by the Korean Government (MEST) (No. 2012R1A1A2044472).