The photoluminescent layers based on ZnO nanoparticles as radiation converters in photovoltaic applications

Abstract

The mismatch between solar cell response and solar spectrum is one of the biggest challenges to achieve high efficiency in photovoltaic cells. There are a few different approaches to minimise this concern. One of them is the radiation conversion which may be due to three different processes, namely up-conversion, down- conversion and down-shifting. In this paper the down-conversion process of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and layers with ZnO NPs in polymer (poly (methyl methacrylate)) (PMMA) matrix will be analysed. ZnO NPs are prone to act as down-converting or down-shifting agents, which absorb the UV radiation, which is not absorbed by the solar cell, and then re-emit light in the visible range, which is suited to the photovoltaic cell sensitivity. Herein, the photoluminescence and optical transmittance of ZnO NPs and layers based on ZnO NPs will be presented. These parameters have a large influence on the potential application of these layers in photovoltaic structures for increased efficiency. The conversion layers have to fulfil the following conditions: have good optical transmittance in the visible range and high luminescence efficiency in converting UV radiation into visible. The paper focuses on finding the balance between these parameters.