Spectral conversion of light using luminescent down-shifting for enhancing the performance of solar cells – A short review

Spectral modification (spectral conversion) of light is a type of practical photon management technique to enhance solar cells performance. There are different methods for changing of energy and wavelength of photons: 1- Conversion of photons with low energy and long wavelength to photons with high energy and short wavelength; 2- Conversion of photons with high energy and short wavelength to photons with low energy and long wavelength. Threre are two mechanisms for second method: Down conversion (DC) and photoluminescence. Using luminescent down-shifting (LDS) layer is a strategy for practical use of second method and improving the poor spectral response of solar cells to short-wavelength light. The LDS layer absorbs photons in the 300–500 nm range, and re-emits them at longer wavelengths where the photovoltaic (PV) device exhibits a better response. This paper is a short review of different technique for spectral modification, materials that using for construction of LDS layer (host matarials and convereters) and effect of the application of LDS on the performmance of different solar cells. Also, light pass in a LDS layer was studied.