Deposition of Luminescent Vanadate Nanoparticles on Silicon Solar Cells

The Eu and Ca-doped LaVO
₄
luminescent vanadate nanoparticles synthesized by sol-gel method have been successfully applied on silicon and solar cell substrates by pulsed laser deposition method for the first time. Morphology and structure of the obtained films were investigated. The films are formed by very small particles (up to 20 nm) and also can contain some agglomerates of nanoparticles. Optical properties of the samples have been studied and discussed. The vanadate films have caused improvement of antireflection properties of the used substrates. Luminescence spectra of the deposited films consist of spectral lines corresponded to f-f transitions in the Eu
³
+ ions. Spectra of the samples on solar cell substrates contain also very weak wide bands caused by emission of substrate. The optimal conditions of deposition of nanoparticles for obtaining of films promising for applications as luminescent spectral converters for improvement of efficiency of silicon solar cells are discussed.