Plasmonic Eutectic Material for Up-Conversion Enhancement
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a lack of effective eutectic materials that exhibit plasmonically enhanced up-conversion in the visible wavelength range, particularly in metal-oxide eutectics with plasmonic nanoparticles, which are essential for improving solar energy conversion efficiency in photovoltaic cells.
Innovation Solution
A plasmonic eutectic material composed of a dielectric matrix (Bi2O3), metallic or semiconducting precipitates (Ag), and rare earth ions (Er and Yb) is developed, where the components are processed to form nanoparticles through annealing, inducing localized surface plasmon resonance and enhancing up-conversion efficiency in the 500-700 nm wavelength range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If eutectic materials are doped with rare earth ions to achieve up-conversion, then up-conversion capability is improved, but up-conversion intensity in the visible wavelength range remains insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite eutectic material combining metal oxide (Bi2O3) and metal (Ag) phases, where the metal phase provides plasmonic enhancement to amplify the up-conversion signal from rare earth ions, achieving both up-conversion capability and high intensity in the visible range
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the physical and chemical parameters of the eutectic material by controlling the composition ratios of metal oxide and metal phases, adjusting particle size distribution, and optimizing doping concentrations of rare earth ions to maximize up-conversion intensity through plasmonic resonance effects
2Reliability
If plasmonic nanoparticles are introduced to enhance up-conversion, then up-conversion intensity is improved, but material complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the dielectric metal oxide phase with the plasmonic metal phase into a single eutectic material system, where both phases coexist and interact synergistically to provide both structural stability and plasmonic enhancement without requiring separate components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates localized plasmonic hotspots around metal nanoparticles within the eutectic matrix, concentrating electromagnetic energy enhancement precisely where rare earth ions are doped, thereby achieving high up-conversion intensity without uniformly increasing material complexity throughout the entire structure
3Reliability
If annealing is performed to form metallic precipitates, then plasmonic properties are improved, but manufacturing process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates metal precursors into the eutectic material composition before the annealing process, pre-positioning the metallic components in the correct locations and concentrations, so that the subsequent annealing step naturally forms the desired plasmonic nanoparticulate structure without requiring additional complex fabrication steps
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The material significantly increases up-conversion intensity in the visible range, enhancing the conversion of solar energy into electricity by amplifying luminescence through plasmonic resonance, making it suitable for the bottom layer of solar photovoltaic cells.
Implementation Method 1
plasmonic properties, which are related to the presence of localised surface plasmons, i.e. vibrations of free carriers in nanometric objects with a negative value of real part of electric permittivity
Implementation Method 2
The up-conversion process involves a material emitting radiation of a shorter wavelength (higher energy) when excited with radiation of a longer wavelength (lower energy). An example of this type of phenomenon is the emission of green and red light when excited with infrared radiation
Implementation Method 3
As a result of annealing of this material, an enhancement of the up-conversion intensity in this range occurs
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The present invention relates to a plasmonic eutectic material, doped with rare earth (RE) ions, which exhibits up-conversion in the range between 500 nm and 700 nm when illuminated with a light of 980 nm wavelength. As a result of annealing this material, the up-conversion intensity in this range is enhanced. The invention has applications in photovoltaics based on the up-conversion mechanism. The present invention also relates to a method for fabricating eutectic material.