Sm3+–Ce3+-doped glass-ceramic waveguide as reduced ultraviolet light induced degradation and improved photon harvesting for perovskite solar cells

In this paper a transparent layer of Sm3+ and Ce3+ ions co-doped P2O5–Li2O–ZnO–Sm2O3–CeO2 glass-ceramic waveguide applied for perovskite solar cells by reducing ultraviolet photo-degradation as well as enhancing energy conversion efficiency was successfully prepared using a conventional high temperature melting quenching method in air atmosphere. Intense red emissions generated from the Sm3+ are captured in the glass samples under the excitation of ultraviolet radiation. Furthermore, Ce3+ ion has been co-doped as a sensitizer, resulting in an enhancement of Sm3+ emission intensity in the visible region. This bi-functional layer will be helpful in improving the performance of perovskite solar cells by improving photocurrent and ultraviolet stability.