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Core–shell nanophosphor with enhanced NIR–visible upconversion as spectrum modifier for enhancement of solar cell efficiency

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Abstract

A distinct enhancement of upconversion luminescence from core to core/shell (C/S) structure under low flux near infrared (NIR) excitation at 976 nm has been achieved in lanthanide (Er3+, Yb3+)-doped NaYF4 core with undoped NaYF4 shell nanoparticles (NP). A green chemistry approach has been taken to synthesize monodisperse monophasic C/S NP with the core (~20 nm) and shell (~5 nm) crystallizing into cubic phase. Hydrophobic C/S NP have been further made hydrophilic by coating a transparent SHMP layer without affecting luminescence. C/S (NaYF4: Er, Yb/NaYF4) NP integrated dye-sensitized solar cell indicated 11.9% enhancement in overall conversion efficiency under AM 1.5 conditions, due to NIR–visible spectrum modification by fluorescent NPs. The results indicate great potential of such upconverting C/S nanophosphor in solar cell applications.

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Acknowledgments

The authors (A.F.K., R.Y.) gratefully acknowledge the support from the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi for research fellowship. Authors are thankful to Mr. Sunil K. Sharma and Mr. Amarjeet Singh from RRCAT, Indore, Dr. R. K. Kotnala, Ms. Prachi Joshi, Ms. Chetna Dhand, and Dr. A.K.Srivastava from NPL, New Delhi for their help during the course of the work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Physical Laboratory, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Dr K S Krishnan Road, New Delhi, 110 012, India

    Atif F. Khan, Ravishanker Yadav, Sukhvir Singh & Santa Chawla

  2. Raja Ramanna Centre for Advanced Technology, Indore, MP, India

    P. K. Mukhopadhya

  3. Photovoltaic Laboratory, Centre for Energy Studies, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, 110 016, India

    Charu Dwivedi & Viresh Dutta

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  1. Atif F. Khan
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  2. Ravishanker Yadav
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  3. P. K. Mukhopadhya
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  4. Sukhvir Singh
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  5. Charu Dwivedi
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  6. Viresh Dutta
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  7. Santa Chawla
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Correspondence to Santa Chawla.

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Khan, A.F., Yadav, R., Mukhopadhya, P.K. et al. Core–shell nanophosphor with enhanced NIR–visible upconversion as spectrum modifier for enhancement of solar cell efficiency. J Nanopart Res 13, 6837–6846 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-011-0591-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-011-0591-9

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