Up-conversion luminescence of Er3 +-doped glass ceramics containing β-NaGdF4 nanocrystals for silicon solar cells

Abstract

A new Er3+ doped oxyfluoride borosilicate glass ceramics was developed by controlling crystallization of the quenched glass. The hexagonal NaGdF4 nanocrystals were precipitated in the glass matrix, which was confirmed by the X-ray diffraction and TEM results. Notable enhancement of upconversion emission was observed in the Er3+ doped glass ceramics and attributed to the enrichment of Er3+ into NaGdF4 nanocrystals. With the increasing of Er3+ content, the upconversion emission density ration from green to red light greatly changed in the glass ceramics. This material may be used as a potential material for the silicon solar cells.