Double-shell β-NaYF4:Yb3+, Er3+/SiO2/TiO2 submicroplates as a scattering and upconverting layer for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells.

Double-shell β-NaYF4:Yb3+, Er3+/SiO2/TiO2 submicroplates have been used as a scattering and upconverting layer for dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Due to their effective light scattering and upconverting effects, the performance of DSSCs was significantly enhanced, resulting in an efficiency of 7.70%, which is a noticeable improvement of ∼29.41% compared to the cell without the bifunctional layer (5.95%).