Eu³⁺ doped down shifting TiO₂ layer for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells

Europium doped TiO₂ (TiO₂:Eu³⁺) down-shifting (DS) nanophosphors (NPrs) were synthesized by the solution-combustion method with different concentrations of Eu³⁺. The X-ray diffraction results confirmed the formation of a polycrystalline tetragonal structure of the TiO₂. The emission of colour of the TiO₂:Eu³⁺ DS NPr was tuned by varying the doping concentration of Eu³⁺. The photoluminescence results confirmed that the TiO₂:Eu³⁺ DS NPrs converted the UV light into visible light by energy down-conversion process, i.e. down-shifting of high energy UV photons to low energy visible photons. These TiO₂:Eu³⁺ DS NPrs were used to enhance the efficiency of the Dye sensitized solar cell from 8.32% to 8.80%.