Visible photon multiplication in Ce³⁺-Tb³⁺ doped borate glasses for enhanced solar cells

Visible photon multiplication is exposed in the Ce³⁺-Tb³⁺ doped alkaline-earth borate (LKZBSB) glass system. Efficient green and blue fluorescences originate from Tb³⁺ and Ce³⁺ emitting centres, respectively. Evaluation of absolute spectral parameters reveals that the quantum yield of Tb³⁺ single doped LKZBSB glasses is ∼8% under UVA radiation. Furthermore, with the introduction of Ce³⁺ into the Tb³⁺ doping system, the effective excitation wavelength range and the emission intensity of Tb³⁺ in LKZBSB glasses are remarkably expanded and improved by a maximum sensitization factor of ∼52 in the UVB spectral region. These results demonstrate that the Ce³⁺-Tb³⁺ doped LKZBSB glass system has promising potential as an efficient UV→Visible radiation conversion layer for the enhancement of solar cell efficiency, including cells employed in outer space.