LAUSR

Abstract Monoclinic BaCe2(MoO4)4 nanostructures doped Erbium/Ytterbium ions (Er3+/Yb3+) with photovoltaic properties have been synthesized via a facile sol-gel method followed by a post thermal treatment at approximately low temperature. Crystalline structures of the main texture deduce an uneven relationship between lattice parameters, which are well-matched with a monoclinic system. The morphological observations confirm the nanoscales formations of the particles, either before or after addition of the rare-earth ions into the main texture. The physical properties of the samples analyze using diffuse reflection spectroscopy and photoluminescence. It is clear that upon increasing the Er3+ and Yb3+ into the major phase, the band gaps are slightly depressed, moreover, the intensity of the photoluminescence peaks are enhanced. The as-prepared samples have been used in a fabricated dye sensitized solar cells. The energy conversion efficiency and current-density of the BaCen(MoO4)4 containing 0.45 Yb3+ are found as a best sample for the fabricated solar cell device. In this sample the energy conversion efficiency and current-density were effectively enhanced to 8.32% and 28.58 mA cm−2, respectively.