Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Synthesis and characterization of GdVO4:Dy3+ nanosheets as down converter: application in dye-sensitized solar cells

  • Published:
Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The effect of GdVO4:Dy3+ luminescent film as down converter material on the efficiency of dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) was investigated. For this purpose, GdVO4 nanoparticles doped with lanthanide were synthesized by hydrothermal method and the effect of different parameters such as temperature, reaction time, concentration of dopant and annealing regime on their morphology and photoluminescence (PL) properties were studied. The ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) and PL spectroscopy studies indicated that GdVO4 nanoparticles could be used as luminescent down conversion (DC) and UV filters. Considering the decrease of chemical stability of dye sensitized solar cells under UV radiation, nanoparticles of GdVO4:Dy3+, constructed as a UV filter and the luminescent DC were used to increase the cell efficiency of DSSC. The efficiency of DSSC increased by 10.30 % using a film of nanoparticles on the back surface of the photo electrode (PE) and by 2.69 %, when the nanoparticles were used to prepare the PE of DSSC, compared with a DSSC lacking GdVO4:Dy3+.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. H. Sun, L. Pan, Z. Piao, Z. Sun, Enhanced performance of cadmium selenide quantum dot-sensitized solar cells by incorporating long afterglow europium, dysprosium co-doped strontium aluminate phosphors. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 416, 81–85 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. B. O’regan, M. Grätzel, Low cost and highly efficient solar cells based on the sensitization of colloidal titanium dioxide. Nature 335(24), 737–740 (1991)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. M. Grätzel, Photoelectrochemical cells. Nature 414(6861), 338–344 (2001)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. N. Sharifi, N. Ghazyani, N. Taghavinia, Morphological dependence of light backscattering from metallic back reflector films: application in dye-sensitized solar cells. Phys. Status Solidi (a) 212(4), 785–790 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. K.H. Ko, Y.C. Lee, Y.J. Jung, Enhanced efficiency of dye-sensitized TiO2 solar cells (DSSC) by doping of metal ions. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 283(2), 482–487 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. A.S. Nair, R. Jose, V. Shengyuan, S. Ramakrishna, A simple recipe for an efficient TiO2 nanofiber-based dye-sensitized solar cell. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 353(1), 39–45 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Q. Li, J. Lin, J. Wu, Z. Lan, Y. Wang, F. Peng, M. Huang, Enhancing photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cell by rare-earth doped oxide of Lu2O3:(Tm3+, Yb3+). Electrochim. Acta 56, 4980–4984 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. K. Andreas, M. Grätzel, Dye-sensitized core-shell nanocrystals: improved efficiency of mesoporous tin oxide electrodes coated with a thin layer of an insulating oxide. Chem. Mater. 14, 2930–2935 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. M. Zahedifar, Z. Chamanzadeh, S.M.H. Mashkani, Synthesis of LaVO4:Dy3+ luminescent nanostructure and optimization of its performance as down-converter in dye-sensitized solar cells. J. Lumin. 135, 66–73 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. C. Strümpel, M. McCann, G. Beaucarne, V. Arkhipov, A. Slaoui, V. Švrček, C. del Cañizo, I. Tobias, Modifying the solar spectrum to enhance silicon solar cell efficiency—an overview of available materials. Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 91, 238–249 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. L. Guocong, D. Xuechen, L. Haibin, D. Hui, Z. Ligang, Novel polyhedron-like t-LaVO4:Dy3+ nanocrystals: hydrothermal synthesis and PL properties. Cryst. Growth 310, 4689 (2008)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. D.C. Yu, S. Ye, M.Y. Peng, Q.Y. Zhang, J.R. Qiu, J. Wang, L. Wondraczek, Efficient near-infrared downconversion in GdVO4:Dy3+ phosphors for enhancing the photo-response of solar cells. Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 95, 1590 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. C. Feng, J. Zhang, R. Lang, Z. Jin, Z. Wu, Z. Zhang, Unusual photo-induced adsorption–desorption behaviour of propylene on Ag/TiO2 nanotube under visible light irradiation. Appl. Surf. Sci. 257, 1864 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. T. Gavrilović, D.J. Jovanovic, V. Lujpur, M.D. Dramicanin, Multifunctional Eu3+-and Er3+/Yb3+-doped GdVO4 nanoparticles synthesized by reverse micelle method. Sci. Rep. 4, 4290 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Y. Zheng, H. You, G. Jia, K. Liu, Y. Song, M. Yang, H. Zhang, Facile hydrothermal synthesis and luminescent properties of large-scale GdVO4:Eu3+ nanowires. Cryst. Growth Des. 9, 5101–5107 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. L. Yang, G. Li, M. Zhao, J. Zheng, X. Guan, L. Li, Morphology-controllable growth of GdVO4:Eu3+ nano/microstructures for an optimum red luminescence. Nanotechnology 23, 245602 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. J. Wang, Y. Xu, M. Hojamberdiev, J. Peng, G. Zhu, Na2 EDTA-assisted hydrothermal synthesis and luminescent properties of YVO4:Eu3+ with different morphologies in a wide pH range. Mater. Sci. Eng. B 156, 42 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. L.-N. Jin, Q. Liu, W.-Y. Sun, Synthesis and photoluminescence of octahedral GdVO4 microcrystals by hydrothermal conversion of Gd2 (CO3) 3·xH2O nanospheres. Solid State Sci. 19, 45–50 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. A. De Vos, A. Szymanska, V. Badescu, Modelling of solar cells with down-conversion of high energy photons, anti-reflection coatings and light trapping. Energy Convers. Manag. 50, 328–336 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. H. Cui, Y. Feng, W. Ren, T. Zeng, H. Lv, Y. Pan, Strategies of large scale synthesis of monodisperse nanoparticles. Recent Pat. Nanotechnol. 3, 32–41 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. C.R. Ronda, Phosphors for lamps and displays: an applicational view. J. Alloys Compd. 225, 534–538 (2005)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. J. Callaway, Quantum theory of the solid state (Academic Press, London, 1974)

    Google Scholar 

  23. M.N. Kamalasanan, N.D. Kumar, S. Chandra, Structural, optical, and dielectric properties of sol-gel derived SrTiO3 thin films. J. Appl. Phys. 74, 679–686 (1993)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. X.-C. Jiang, L.-D. Sun, C.-H. Yan, Ordered nanosheet-based YBO3:Eu3+ assemblies: synthesis and tunable luminescent properties. J. Phys. Chem. B 108, 3387–3390 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. B.M. van der Ende, L. Aarts, A. Meijerink, Lanthanide ions as spectral converters for solar cells. J. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 11, 11081–11095 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. J. Liu, Q. Yao, Y. Li, Effects of downconversion luminescent film in dye-sensitized solar cells. Appl. Phys. Lett. 88, 173119 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. H. Hafez, J.H. Wu, Z. Lan, Q.H. Li, G.X. Xie, J.M. Lin, M.L. Huang, Y.F. Huang, M.S. Abdel-Mottaleb, Enhancing the photoelectrical performance of dye-sensitized solar cells using TiO2:Eu3+ nanorods. Nanotechnology 21, 415201 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Authors are grateful to research council of the University of Kashan for providing financial support to undertake this work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physics Department, Faculty of Physics, University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran

    M. Zahedifar

  2. Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran

    M. Zahedifar, Z. Chamanzadeh, M. Madani, M. Moradi & N. Sharifpour

Authors
  1. M. Zahedifar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Z. Chamanzadeh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Madani
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. Moradi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. N. Sharifpour
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Zahedifar.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zahedifar, M., Chamanzadeh, Z., Madani, M. et al. Synthesis and characterization of GdVO4:Dy3+ nanosheets as down converter: application in dye-sensitized solar cells. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 27, 4447–4456 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-016-4316-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-016-4316-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation