Upconversion in a Bragg structure: photonic effects of a modified local density of states and irradiance on luminescence and upconversion quantum yield.

In this paper, we present a comprehensive simulation-based analysis of the two photonic effects of a Bragg stack - a modified local density of photon states (LDOS) and an enhanced local irradiance - on the upconversion (UC) luminescence and quantum yield of the upconverter β-NaYF doped with 25% Er. The investigated Bragg stack consists of alternating layers of TiO and Poly(methylmethacrylate), the latter containing upconverter nanoparticles. Using experimentally determined input parameters, the photonic effects are first simulated separately and subsequently coupled in a rate equation model, describing the dynamics of the UC processes within β-NaYF:25% Er.

Increased upconversion quantum yield in photonic structures due to local field enhancement and modification of the local density of states--a simulation-based analysis.

In upconversion processes, two or more low-energy photons are converted into one higher-energy photon. Besides other applications, upconversion has the potential to decrease sub-band-gap losses in silicon solar cells. Unfortunately, upconverting materials known today show quantum yields, which are too low for this application.

Electromagnetic simulations of a photonic luminescent solar concentrator.

Luminescent solar concentrators (LSC) are used in photovoltaic applications to concentrate direct and diffuse sunlight without tracking. We employed 2D FDTD simulations to investigate the concept of a photonic LSC (PLSC), where the luminescent material is embedded in a photonic crystal to mitigate the primary losses in LSCs: the escape cone and reabsorption. We obtain suppressed emission inside the photonic band gap, which can be utilized to reduce reabsorption.