Near-infrared sunlight harvesting in dye-sensitized solar cells via the insertion of an upconverter-TiO₂ nanocomposite layer.

Er(3+),Yb(3+) co-doped LaF₃-TiO₂ nanocomposites (UC-TiO₂) are inserted as a middle layer in a novel tri-layer photoanode design (see Figure) of a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). The Er(3+),Yb(3+) co-doped LaF₃ part of the nanocomposite helps capture near-infrared (NIR) light by converting it into visible light absorbable by the dye hence opening the road for the development of DSSCs with higher conversion efficiency and photocurrent output.