Efficient Near-Infrared Emission of Ce3+ -Nd3+ CoDoped (Sr0.6 Ca0.4 )3 (Al0.6 Si0.4 )O4.4 F0.6 Phosphors for c-Si Solar Cell

Ce3+, Nd3+ codoped (Sr0.6Ca0.4)3(Al0.6Si0.4)O4.4F0.6 phosphors were synthesized through the high-temperature solid-state reaction method. Luminescence spectra, absorption spectra, and decay lifetimes of these samples have been measured to prove the energy-transfer process from Ce3+ to Nd3+. Under UV and blue light excitation, (Sr0.6Ca0.4)3(Al0.6Si0.4)O4.4F0.6:Ce3+,Nd3+ phosphors exhibit near-infrared (NIR) emission, mainly peaking at 1093 nm and secondarily at 916 nm. The NIR emission matches well with the band gap of c-Si. Results of this work suggest that the (Sr0.6Ca0.4)3(Al0.6Si0.4)O4.4F0.6:Ce3+, Nd3+ phosphors have potential application as down-shifting luminescent convertor for enhancing the photoelectric conversion efficiency of c-Si solar cell.