Timur Atabaev1,Kamila Zhumanova1
Nazarbayev University1
Timur Atabaev1,Kamila Zhumanova1
Nazarbayev University1
In recent years, transparent thin films capable of screening and converting UV photons into visible spectrum gained significant interest in the protection of photovoltaic devices. We investigated the optical properties and UV screening capability of europium-doped titanium oxide (TiO<sub>2</sub>-Eu) thin films deposited by the spin-coating method from a solution precursor for the first time in this study. We showed that TiO<sub>2</sub>-Eu thin films demonstrate europium concentration-dependent optical properties, and the quantum yield (QY) of the optimized sample was found to be ~ 10.2 %. Transmittance and photoluminescence measurements suggested that TiO<sub>2</sub>-Eu thin film can effectively block UV photons (~ 30.5 % at 320 nm) at glass substrate and convert them to red emission thanks to <sup>5</sup>D<sub>0</sub> →<sup>7</sup>F<sub>j</sub> (j = 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4) Eu (III) electronic transitions. Photodegradation experiments with Methylene blue (MB) dye revealed that TiO<sub>2</sub>-Eu thin films offer better UV protection as compared to uncoated samples. We strongly believe that porous TiO<sub>2</sub>-Eu thin films can be effectively utilized as a UV blocking and light conversion coating.