Improving solar cell efficiency with upconversion layer of glass-doped Ce3+/Nd3+

The performance of solar cell conversion layers is limited by weak elasticity, weak thermal stability, and high phonon energy. An upconversion layer of 40P2O5-20ZnO-10Pb3O4-10NaF-10MgF-1(CeO2+Nd2O3) with varying Ce3+/Nd3+ ratios [0/0, 1/0,0/1,0.5/0.5] was synthesized to overcome these issues. The glass transition temperature rose from 388 °C for the host glass to 406 °C for the 0.5/0.5 Ce3+/Nd3+, with thermal stability improving from 357 to 359°C. The diffusion of Ce3+/Nd3+ ions increased the elastic moduli and hardness, with Young's modulus, shear modulus, and hardness improving by 13.1%, 29.1%, and 14.9%. Under 308 nm excitation, distinct visible light emissions were observed due to the presence of Ce3+/Nd3+, with the highest emission intensity seen at the 0.5/0.5 Ce3+/Nd3+ ratio. This glass exhibits exceptional thermal, elastic, and upconversion properties, making it particularly well-suited for solar cell applications.