Photoluminescence of rare-earth ion(Eu^(3+), Tm^(3+), and Er^(3+))-doped and co-doped ZnNb_2O_6 for solar cells

Visible converted emissions produced at an excitation of 286 nm in Zn Nb2O6 ceramics doped with rare-earth ions(RE= Eu3+, Tm3+, Er3+or a combination of these ions) were investigated with the aim of increasing the photovoltaic efficiency of solar cells. The structure of RE:Zn Nb2O6 ceramics was confirmed by x-ray diffraction patterns. The undoped Zn Nb2O6 could emit a blue emission under 286-nm excitation, which is attributed to the self-trapped excitons’ recombination of the efficient luminescence centers of edge-shared Nb O6 groups. Upon 286-nm excitation, Eu:Zn Nb2O6, Tm:Zn Nb2O6, and Er:Zn Nb2O6 ceramics showed blue, green, and red emissions, which correspond to the transitions of5D0→7FJ(J = 1–4)(Eu3+),1G4→3H6(Tm3+), and2H11/2/4S3/2→4I15/2(Er3+), respectively. The calculated CIE chromaticity coordinates of Eu:Zn Nb2O6, Tm:Zn Nb2O6, and Er:Zn Nb2O6are(0.50, 0.31),(0.14, 0.19), and(0.29, 0.56), respectively. RE ionco-doped Zn Nb2O6 showed a combination of characteristic emissions. The chromaticity coordinates of Eu/Tm:Zn Nb2O6,Eu/Er:Zn Nb2O6, and Tm/Er:ZnNb2O6 were calculated to be(0.29, 0.24),(0.45, 0.37), and(0.17, 0.25).