Improving photovoltaic performance of dye-sensitized solar cell by downshift luminescence and p-doping effect of Gd2O3:Sm3+

Doped rare-earth oxide Gd₂O₃:Sm³⁺ is prepared and introduced into the TiO₂ film in dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). Gd₂O₃:Sm³⁺, as a luminescence medium, improves light harvest via a downshift luminescence process and increases photocurrent of the DSSC; the rare-earth ion, as a p-type dopant, elevates the energy level of the oxide film and increases the photovoltage of the DSSC. Under a simulated solar light irradiation with intensity of 100mWcm^-2, a DSSC contained Gd₂O₃:Sm³⁺ (6% in doping layer) achieves a light-to-electric energy conversion efficiency of 6.72%, which is increased by 12.6% compared with a DSSC lacking Gd₂O₃:Sm³⁺.