Enhanced photovoltaic performances of the dye-sensitized solar cell by utilizing rare-earth modified tin oxide compact layer

Multifunctional and ultrathin tin oxide (SnO2) compact layer is modified by europium ion doped ytterbium fluoride (VbF(3):Eu3+), which is first designed and fabricated by a facile spin-coating method for the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). The device with SnO2/YbF3:Eu3+ compact layer exhibits enhanced long-term stability and photoelectric conversion efficiency (PCE) compared to those of the device without compact layer. The enhanced long-term stability is due to the SnO2/YbF3:Eu3+ compact layer can transform ultraviolet (UV) light into visible light to mitigate dye degradation. The enhanced PCE is associated with the reduced recombination rate of electrons, the enhanced short-wavelength light response, and the high transparency of the compact layer. Moreover, the novel strategy of preparation SnO2/YbF3:Eu3+ compact layer is an universal method to adjust rare-earth species to achieve up- or down-conversion functions, and the multifunctional compact layer can be widely applied in the photovoltaic device. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.