Visible to near-infrared down-shifting in Tm3+ doped fluoride glasses for solar cells efficiency enhancement

Abstract In this paper, down-conversion of Tm 3+ doped fluoride ZLAG glasses with composition of 70.2ZrF 4 –(23.4−x)LaF 3 –0.6AlF 3 –5.8GaF 3 –xTmF 3 (x = 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 2, 3 and 5 mol%) were tested as encapsulation materials for solar cells. The current density – voltage (J-V) characterizations were performed under solar simulator irradiation. The influence of Tm 3+ concentration on the mono crystalline silicon solar cells performances was investigated. A slight increase of the solar cell efficiency was observed in the case of fluoride ZLAG for Tm 3+ doping concentrations up to 1 mol% Tm 3+ . Further increase of the Tm 3+ concentration leads to a decrease of solar cell conversion efficiency as a result of concentration quenching.