BCNO silica gel-based green transparent and efficient luminescent downshifting layer for Si solar cells

Abstract

The luminescent downshifting (LDS) layer in photovoltaics is emerging as a versatile and cost-effective technique to expand solar energy harvesting into new spaces. Herein, we introduce a 2D-BCNO (boron carbon oxynitride)-based silica gel as a transparent, green and rare-earth-free luminophore for such an LDS layer, which is capable of exploiting its highly efficient emission behaviour to enhance light absorption as well as the performance of a Si solar cell. Initial tests with the BCNO gel LDS layer on the top showed a 7.1% improvement in the power conversion efficiency of the Si solar cell. The observed enhancement is very promising, on par with the best in the literature, and it can be further improved by optimizing the BCNO emission.