Near infrared emissions from both high efficient quantum cutting (173%) and nearly-pure-color upconversion in NaY(WO_(4))_(2):Er^(3+)/Yb^(3+) with thermal management capability for silicon-based solar cells

Raising photoelectric conversion efficiency and enhancing heat management are two critical concerns for siliconbased solar cells.In this work,efficient Yb^(3+) infrared emissions from both quantum cutting and upconversion were demonstrated by adjusting Er^(3+) and Yb^(3+) concentrations,and thermo-manage-applicable temperature sensing based on the luminescence intensity ratio of two super-low thermal quenching levels was discovered in an Er^(3+)/Yb^(3+) codoped tungstate system.The quantum cutting mechanism was clearly decrypted as a two-step energy transfer process from Er^(3+) to Yb^(3+).The two-step energy transfer efficiencies,the radiative and nonradiative transition rates of all interested 4 f levels of Er^(3+) in NaY(WO_(4))_(2) were confirmed in the framework of Föster-Dexter theory,Judd-Ofelt theory,and energy gap law,and based on these obtained efficiencies and rates the quantum cutting efficiency was furthermore determined to be as high as 173%in NaY(WO_(4))_(2):5 mol%Er^(3+)/50 mol%Yb^(3+) sample.Strong and nearly pure infrared upconversion emission of Yb3+under 1550 nm excitation was achieved in Er^(3+)/Yb^(3+)co-doped NaY(WO_(4))_(2) by adjusting Yb^(3+) doping concentrations.The Yb^(3+) induced infrared upconversion emission enhancement was attributed to the efficient energy transfer ^(4)I_(11/2)(Er^(3+))+^(2)F_(7/2)(Yb^(3+))→^(4)I_(15/2)(Er^(3+))+^(2)F_(5/2)(Yb^(3+))and large nonradiative relaxation rate of ^(4)I_(9/2).Analysis on the temperature sensing indicated that the NaY(WO_(4))_(2):Er^(3+)/Yb^(3+)serves well the solar cells as thermos-managing material.Moreover,it was confirmed that the fluorescence thermal quenching of ^(2)H_(11/2)/^(4)S_(3/2) was caused by the nonradiative relaxation of ^(4)S_(3/2).All the obtained results suggest that NaY(WO_(4))_(2):Er^(3+)/Yb^(3+) is an excellent material for silicon-based solar cells to improve photoelectric conversion efficiency and thermal management.