Green and red emissions in tellurite glasses doped with Er3 +/yb3 + and the influence of metallic nanoparticicles

Abstract

Metal-dielectric nanocomposites like glasses containing silver and gold nanoparticles have been attracting large attention in the last years. In particular these materials doped with rare-earth ions are promising materials since rare earth ions luminescence may be intensified in the presence of the nanoparticles. Both energy transfer between the nanoparticles and rare-earth ion and/or enhancement of local field which interacts with rare-earth ion located in the proximity of the nanoparticles may contribute for quenching, or enhancement of the luminescence. In this work we investigate for the first time the behavior of infrared-to-visible upconversion (UPC) luminescence from Er3 + -Yb3 + doped TeO2-PbO-GeO2 glasses containing metallic nanoparticles (NPs). The enhancement of Yb3 + concentration normally causes the increase of the green and red emissions. The purpose of this work is to study the interference of the metallic nanoparticles in Yb3 + Er3 + energy transfer mechanism The samples were prepared by the traditional method of melting/casting process. Optical excitation was achieved with a laser operating at 980 nm in resonance with the Yb3 + transition (4F5/2 4 F7/2 ). Transmission electron microscopy using a 200 kV equipment was performed to investigate the nucleation and growth of the nanoparticles.