LAUSR

Abstract Trivalent erbium-doped tellurite glasses have been prepared and investigated with an aim to improve the efficiency of a Silicon (Si) solar cell through photon upconversion processes. The upconversion emissions at 548 nm (4S3/2, 2H11/2 → 4I15/2), 671 nm (4F9/2 → 4I15/2), 800 nm (4I9/2 → 4I15/2) and 975 nm (4I11/2 → 4I15/2) of Er3+ ions have been observed under 1500 nm laser excitation. The 3.0 mol% Er2O3-doped glass exhibits high upconversion emission at 975 nm compared to 0.01 and 0.5 mol% Er2O3–doped glasses. Temporal evolution studies confirm that energy transfer upconversion is responsible for observed upconversion emissions, which is in good agreement with a simple rate-equations model. The upconversion intensity and photocurrent of solar cell are found to increase with the increase of pump power of the laser. A significant enhancement in photocurrent of a solar cell has been observed, when the 3.0 mol% Er2O3-doped glass is placed over a solar cell under 1500 nm laser excitation. All the results indicate that 3.0 mol% Er2O3-doped glass could be suitable for enhancing the solar cell efficiency.