Eu3+ doped down shifting TiO2 layer for efficient dye-sensitized solar cells.

Europium doped TiO2 (TiO2:Eu3+) down-shifting (DS) nanophosphors (NPrs) were synthesized by the solution-combustion method with different concentrations of Eu3+. The X-ray diffraction results confirmed the formation of a polycrystalline tetragonal structure of the TiO2. The emission of colour of the TiO2:Eu3+ DS NPr was tuned by varying the doping concentration of Eu3+. The photoluminescence results confirmed that the TiO2:Eu3+ DS NPrs converted the UV light into visible light by energy down-conversion process, i.e. down-shifting of high energy UV photons to low energy visible photons. These TiO2:Eu3+ DS NPrs were used to enhance the efficiency of the Dye sensitized solar cell from 8.32% to 8.80%.