International Science Community Association Research Journal of Chemical Sciences 2231 - 606X 6 4 2016 April 18 Downconversion in YVO4:Yb3+ for sensitization of c-Si solar cells 36 40 EN Tafesse Bashaye Tessema 1 Department of Chemistry, Arba Minch University, Arba Minch, Ethiopia R.O. Ogboru 1 Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria: Moist Forest Research Station, P.M.B 2444, Benin-City, Nigeria C.A. Idibie 2 Michael and Cecilia Ibru University, P.M.B 100, Agbarha-Otor, Ughelli, Delta State, Nigeria P.L. Okolie 3 Delta State Polytechnic, Azagbaroad, P.M.B. 1030, Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State, Nigeria I. Agboje 4 Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria: Moist Forest Research Station, P.M.B 2444, Benin-City, Nigeria S.D. Kadam 1 Kinetics and Catalysis Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Shivaji University Kolhapur 416004, India G.S. Gokavi 2 Kinetics and Catalysis Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Shivaji University Kolhapur 416004, India Ashish Choudhary 1 Department of Physics, S.D. College of Engineering, Wardha 442 001, Maharashtra, India Kailash Nemade 2 Department of Physics, Indira Mahavidyalaya, Kalamb 445 401, Maharashtra, India Sandeep Waghuley 3 Department of Physics, Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University, Amravati 444 602, Maharashtra, India Ankita R. Karule 1 Deptartment of Science and Humanities, Government Polytechnic, Amravati, Maharashtra, India Shrikrishna P. Yawale 2 Deptartment of Physics, Government Vidarbha Institute of Science and Humanities, Amravati, Maharashtra, India Sangita S. Yawale 3 Deptartment of Physics, Government Vidarbha Institute of Science and Humanities, Amravati, Maharashtra, India Pradnya Gawande 1 Department of Chemistry, Shri Shankar Prasad Agnihotri College of Engineering, Ramnagar, Wardha, MH, India B.B. Gogte 2 Oil Technology Department Laxminarayan Institute of Technology, R.T.M. Nagpur University, MH, India M.K.N. Yenkie 3 Physical Chemistry Department, Laxminarayan Institute of Technology, R.T.M. Nagpur University, Nagpur, MH, India N.S. Sawala 1 Department of Physics, S. G. B. A. U., Amravati 444602, Maharashtra, India C.B. Palan 2 Department of Physics, S. G. B. A. U., Amravati 444602, Maharashtra, India A.O. Chauhan 3 Department of Physics, S. G. B. A. U., Amravati 444602, Maharashtra, India S.K. Omanwar 4 Department of Physics, S. G. B. A. U., Amravati 444602, Maharashtra, India > Research Paper 2016 3 22 2016 April 18 An efficient Yb3+ doped YVO4 (yttrium vanadate) material was synthesized by co-precipitation method followed by slow evaporation. The phase of phosphor was identified by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. In present article the efficient near-infrared (NIR) downconversion (DC) process through energy transfer (ET) process in YVO4:Yb3+ was studied. It was confirmed that there exist effective co-operative energy transfer (CET) from VO43- ion to two neighboring Yb3+ ion in host matrix YVO4. The photoluminescence (PL) of as-synthesized phosphor shows single sharp emission centered at 988 nm which corresponds to the f-f transitions in Yb3+ ions in YVO4 host lattice under the ultra violet (UV) excitation of 322 nm. The NIR emission of wavelength 988 nm due to Yb3+ was observed at the excitation of VO43- ion, due to the CET from one VO43- ions to two adjacent Yb3+ ions. The YVO4:Yb3+ material can convert each UV photon into two NIR photons through CET and hence it has potential application for enhancing conversion efficiency of solar cells based on silicon materials. Copyright@ International Science Community Association