Photon Statistics as a Tool to (Dis)Prove Quantum Cutting in Near-Infrared Emitting Materials

Vincent Benning^a^,^b, Nils van de Mortel^a, Midas Waakop Reijers^a, Maurits Mastwijk^b, Sander Vonk^a^,^c, Andries Meijerink^a, Freddy Rabouw^a^,^b

^aSoft Condensed Matter and Biophysics, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 1, 3584 CC Utrecht, the Netherlands

^bCondensed Matter and Interfaces, Debye Institute for Nanomaterials Science, Utrecht University, Princetonplein 1, 3584CC Utrecht, The Netherlands

^cOptical Materials Engineering Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, ETH Zurich, Leonhardstrasse 21, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland

Proceedings of MATSUS Fall 2025 Conference (MATSUSFall25)

E4 (Ultrafast) Spectroscopy for Energy Materials - #SpEM

València, Spain, 2025 October 20th - 24th

Organizers: Jaco Geuchies and Freddy Rabouw

Oral, Vincent Benning, presentation 185
Publication date: 21st July 2025

Solar spectrum conversion has the potential to enhance solar cell efficiencies, by shifting short-wavelength photons to longer wavelengths where the photovoltaic response is stronger. Realizing these benefits of spectral conversion requires the process of quantum cutting, where two longer-wavelength photons are emitted by a material following the absorption of one shorter-wavelength photon. This type of color conversion can approach 100% energy efficiency, thus using the high-energy part of the solar spectrum with maximum effectivity

Quantum cutting has been claimed for various materials over the past two decades, but follow-up research often disproved initial claims. Typical techniques used to prove quantum cutting are integrating-sphere quantum yield measurements, time-resolved emission or transient absorption spectroscopy. These techniques are complex and not always conclusive.

In this presentation, we show that the photon correlation analysis[1] is a universal strategy to unambiguously reveal quantum cutting. We have tested two materials, YPO₄ co-doped with Tb³⁺ and Yb³⁺ and YAG co-doped with Ce³⁺ and Yb³⁺. Both are reported in the literature to perform quantum cutting via absorption of blue light followed by cooperative energy transfer to near-infrared-emitting Yb³⁺.[2,3] We find that YPO₄:Tb³⁺, Yb³⁺ shows bunched emission, characteristic of quantum cutting. In contrast, YAG:Ce³⁺, Yb³⁺ shows regular Poissonian emission statistics. This reveals that YAG:Ce³⁺,Yb³⁺, despite various claims,[3,4] is not a quantum-cutting material.

References:

[1] [1] de Jong, M.; Meijerink, A.; Rabouw F.T. Non-Poissonian photon statistics from macroscopic photon cutting materials. Nat. Commun. 2017, 8, 15537.

[2] [2] Vergeer, P.; Vlugt, T. J. H.; Kox, M. H. F.; den Hertog, M. I.; van der Eerden, J. P. J. M.; Meijerink, A. Quantum cutting by cooperative energy transfer in Yb𝑥⁢Y1−𝑥⁢P⁢O4:Tb3+. Phys. Rev. B 2005, 71, 014119

[3] [3] Tai, Y..; Li X.; Du, X.; Pan B.; Yuan, G. Broadband near-infrared quantum cutting by Ce–Yb codoped YAG transparent glass ceramics for silicon solar cells. RSC Adv. 2018, 8, 23268-23273

[4] [4] Lin, H.; Zhou, S.; Teng, H.; Li Y.; Li, W.; Hou, X.; Jia, T. Near infrared quantum cutting in heavy Yb doped Ce0.03Yb 3xY(2.97-3x)Al5O12 transparent ceramics for crystalline silicon solar cells. J. Appl. Phys. 2010, 107, 043107

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