Enhanced VIS and NIR emissions of Pr3+ ions in TZYN glasses containing silver ions and nanoparticles

Author(s)

Rajesh, Dagupati ; Amjad, Raja J. ; Reza Dousti, M. ; de Camargo, A. S. S.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Journal of Alloys and Compounds; v. 695, p. 607-612, FEB 25 2017.
• Web of Science Citations: 22

Abstract

TeO2-ZnO-YF3-NaF glasses doped with Pr2O3 and containing AgNO3 were prepared for the first time by single step melt quenching technique. Ag nanoparticles were grown by controlled heat treatment of the glasses during different periods of times (up to 10 h) at 300 degrees C, which is below the glass transition temperature. TEM images show the presence of Ag NPs with average diameter 10-46 nm and, in agreement, a broad absorption band, peaked around 492 nm, was observed and attributed to the surface plasmon resonance band (SPR) of the NPs in Pr3+ free glasses. UV-Vis absorption, and visible and near-infrared steady state and time-dependent fluorescence techniques were used to characterize the effect of the NPs on the emission properties of Pr3+. The enhancement of Pr3+ Stokes luminescence with the increase in NPs concentration was observed for samples excited in resonance (480 nm) and off-resonance (440 and 470 nm) with the SPR band. An increase of the excited state lifetime value for Pr3+: P-3(0) level was also observed in the presence of other Ag species (dimmers, trimmers, molecule-like and non plasmonic Ag particles) and NPs. Thus, the results show that besides the possible local field effect of the NPs, the enhancement of luminescence intensity is also likely to be due to energy transfer from the Ag species to Pr3+ ions. These new glasses show interesting properties that could become useful for photonic device applications. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier B.V. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 15/10713-0 - Investigations of up and down conversion of energy in glass and glass ceramics of rare earth ions doped tellurite for solar cell applications
• Grantee: Rajesh Dagupati
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 13/07793-6 - CEPIV - Center for Teaching, Research and Innovation in Glass
• Grantee: Edgar Dutra Zanotto
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers - RIDC
• FAPESP's process: 15/08434-5 - Fluoroindate and tellurite glasses doped with rare earth ions and metallic nanoparticles for enhanced solar cell efficiency by sunlight down-shifting and upconversion
• Grantee: Andrea Simone Stucchi de Camargo Alvarez Bernardez
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Visiting Researcher Grant - International