9 - Up-conversion processes in Ln(III)-doped luminescent materials for photovoltaics and photocatalysis

Abstract

Near-infrared-to-visible and UV photon energy up-conversion processes in trivalent lanthanide-doped luminescent materials and nanomaterials are reviewed in this chapter. Special attention is paid to their emerging applications in energy conversion of solar spectrum in photovoltaics and photocatalysis areas. Increasing the efficiencies of solar cells for electricity production and the photocatalytic activity in degradation of pollutants and water-splitting hydrogen generation requires a better exploitation of the solar spectrum, especially as regards the range of energies below the semiconductor bandgap. A combined system with a lanthanide-doped luminescent material that could efficiently transfer these above-bandgap up-converted emitting photons to the semiconductor would trigger the generation of electron-hole pairs and boost the photoinduced processes in solar cells and catalytic reactions.