Performance characterization of planar silicon solar cells using NIR up-conversion layer comprising YF3:Yb3+/Er3+ phosphors

Abstract In this study, a SiO 2 layer containing YF 3 :Yb 3+ /Er 3+ phosphors was deposited within matrix-grooves on the back side of silicon solar cells to enable the up-conversion (UC) of near-infrared (NIR) wavelengths with the aim of enhancing energy conversion efficiency. The chemical and optical characteristics of the UC layer were identified using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and photoluminescence measurements. We also characterized the electrical and optical performance of cells featuring a SiO 2 layer with and without NIR-UC phosphors particles of various concentrations in terms of external quantum efficiency and photovoltaic current voltage. Efficiency was shown to increase with an increase in the concentration of NIR-UC phosphors. The efficiency of the cell with a SiO 2 layer that included 30 wt% YF 3 :Yb 3+ /Er 3+ phosphors exceeded the efficiency of a bare solar cell by 13.26%.