Preparation, characterization and application of EVA film containing Eu³⁺ complex with 1-tridecanecarboxylic acid ligand

In this study, on the basis of complex Eu(DBM) 3 Phen which was widely applied in polymer matrices, quaternary complex Eu(DBM) 2 Phen(TA) was synthesized by the introduction of 1-tridecanecarboxylic acid (TA). XRD analyses show that Eu(DBM) 2 Phen(TA) inclines to amorphization compared with Eu(DBM) 3 Phen which is crystal. Ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) film doped with Eu(DBM) 2 Phen(TA) was prepared by casting method. SEM and AFM analyses show that the compatibility of Eu(DBM) 2 Phen(TA) with EVA is better than that of Eu(DBM) 3 Phen with EVA. Under the same addition amount of Eu 3+ complexes, visible light transmittance of Eu(DBM) 2 Phen(TA)/EVA film is obviously greater than that of Eu(DBM) 3 Phen/EVA film, and the fluorescence intensity of Eu(DBM) 2 Phen(TA)/EVA film is only slightly lower than that of Eu(DBM) 3 Phen/EVA film. With the optimum addition amount of Eu 3+ complexes, the energy conversion efficiency of the polycrystalline silicon solar cell coated with Eu(DBM) 2 Phen(TA)/EVA film is improved to 12.14%, and in comparison, that of the solar cell coated with Eu(DBM) 3 Phen/EVA film is only 11.98%. Hence Eu(DBM) 2 Phen(TA)/EVA film has a potential prospect as luminescent down-shifting material.