Application of Y₂O₃:Er³⁺ nanorods in dye-sensitized solar cells

Y₂O₃:Er³⁺ nanorods are synthesized by means of a hydrothermal method and then introduced into a TiO₂ electrode in a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). Y₂O ₃:Er³⁺ improves infrared light harvest via up-conversion luminescence and increases the photocurrent of the DSSC. The rare earth ions improve the energy level of the TiO₂ electrode through a doping effect and thus increase the photovoltage. The light scattering is ameliorated by the one-dimensional nanorod structure. The DSSC containing Y ₂O₃:Er³⁺ (5 wt %) in the doping layer achieves a light-to-electric energy conversion efficiency of 7.0 %, which is an increase of 19.9 % compared to the DSSC lacking of Y₂O₃:Er ³⁺. Illuminating rare earths: Y₂O₃:Er ³⁺ nanorods are introduced into a TiO₂ electrode in a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). Y₂O₃:Er³⁺ improves infrared light harvesting and photocurrent through up-conversion luminescence. The rare earth ions improve the energy level of the TiO ₂ electrode through a doping effect and thus increase the photovoltage. The DSSC doped with Y₂O₃:Er³⁺ achieves an energy conversion efficiency of 7.0 %, which is 19.9 % higher than the DSSC without Y₂O₃:Er³⁺.