A photovoltaic apparatus includes an absorber including a p-layer having a
bandgap greater than about 2 eV, an n-layer having a bandgap greater than
about 2 eV, and an amorphous SiGe intrinsic layer between the p-layer and
the n-layer; a first electrode adjacent to a first side of the absorber;
a second electrode adjacent to a second side of the absorber; and an
up-converter layer positioned adjacent to the second electrode on an
opposite side of the second electrode from the absorber, wherein the
up-converter layer includes a plurality of quantum dots of a first
material in a matrix of a second material.