Enhanced Near-Infrared Luminescence in Ba3Y(BO3)3: Nd3+ by Codoping with Ce3+

Silicon solar cells are still dominating the solar cell market due to its mature technology, but its efficiency was limited due to its ineffective response to solar spectrum. Phosphor could modify the solar spectrum by transferring the Sunlight that cannot be effectively used to optimal response range of silicon solar cell. Here, Ba 3 Y(BO 3 ) 3 : Ce 3+ , Nd 3+ with near-infrared (NIR) emission were prepared via solid-state reaction route, which offer wide blue-violet light of Ce 3+ ions and intense near-infrared light of Nd 3+ ions locating at the maximal spectral response of silicon solar cell. The near-infrared emission intensity of Ce 3+ -Nd 3+ sample was increased in comparison with that of Nd 3+ single-doped sample, which show that Ce 3+ act as an efficient sensitizer with broad absorption cross-section. The energy transfer mechanism was also analyzed. Results reveal that Ba 3 Y(BO 3 ) 3 : Ce 3+ , Nd 3+ co-doped phosphor have promising applications as solar spectral convertor for silicon-based solar cells.