Near infrared emission at 1000 nm from nanostructured Pr3+/Yb3+ Co-doped SiO2-Nb2O5 for solar cell application

Abstract

Energy conversion, involving UV and Vis absorption to generate near infrared (NIR) emission at 1000 nm from nanostructured Pr3+/Yb3+ co-doped SiO2-Nb2O5 for solar cell application was the main focus of this work. The synthesis, structural and optical characterization of Pr3+/Yb3+ co-doped 70SiO2-30Nb2O5 nanocomposites and planar waveguides prepared by the sol gel method are reported. The influence of the rare earth content and thermal annealing on the crystallization process and the luminescence properties was studied. The excitation spectra revealed the energy transfer between the Pr3+ and Yb3+, involving mainly the 3P2 level of Pr3+ ions. Multiphonon decay and cross relaxation processes take place at higher rare earth concentration and annealing temperature, which increases the 1D2 level population and consequently the NIR emission from the Pr3+ ions. The nanostructured Pr3+/Yb3+ co-doped SiO2-Nb2O5 nanocomposites and waveguides show interesting NIR emission and optical properties for photonic applications.