A transparent, nanostructured glass-ceramic material doped with three rare-earth ions (Eu3+, Yb3+, and Er3+), prepared by the sol-gel technique, in which two nanocrystalline phases (SnO2 and LaF3) coexist simultaneously dispersed in a SiO2 matrix, with the rare-earth ions incorporated within these nanocrystals. Both nanocrystalline phases provide the luminescent properties necessary for the simultaneous conversion of infrared and ultraviolet energy to the visible range.
It allows for increased efficiency of photovoltaic solar cells