Upconversion induced enhancement of dye sensitized solar cells based on core–shell structured β-NaYF4:Er3+, Yb3+@SiO2 nanoparticles

Abstract

Upconversion materials have been employed as energy relay materials in dye sensitized solar cells (DSCs) to broaden the range of light absorption. However, the origin of the enhancements can be induced by both upconversion and size-dependent light scattering effects. To clarify the role of the upconversion material in the photoelectrode of DSCs, an upconversion induced device was realized here, which has the size-dependent light scattering effect eliminated via the application of NaYF₄:Er³⁺, Yb³⁺@SiO₂ upconversion nanoparticles (β-NYEY@SiO₂ UCNPs). An enhancement of 6% in efficiency was observed for the device. This demonstration provided an insight into the possible further employment of upconversion in DSCs.