Concentration-dependent near-infrared quantum cutting in GdBO3:Tb3+,Yb3+ nanophosphors

An efficient near-infrared (NIR) quantum-cutting (QC), involving the emission of two low-energy NIR photons from an absorbed visible photon via a cooperative downconversion mechanism in GdBO3:Tb3+,Yb3+ nanophosphors, has been demonstrated. Upon excitation of Tb3+ with a visible photon at 486nm, two NIR photons could be emitted by Yb3+ through cooperative energy transfer from Tb3+ to two Yb3+ ions. The dependence of Yb3+ doping concentration on the visible and NIR emissions, decay lifetime, and quantum efficiencies from the QC phosphors has been investigated. Calculations indicate that the optimal NIR quantum efficiency approaches 182% before reaching concentration quenching threshold. Application of the QC nanophosphors in silicon-based solar cells might greatly enhance its response.