Enhancement of Pr3+ luminescence in TeO2–ZnO–Nb2O5–MoO3 glasses containing silver nanoparticles

Abstract: In this paper, we report the influence of silver nanoparticles (NPs) on the luminescence properties of TeO2–ZnO–Nb2O5–MoO3 glass doped with trivalent praseodymium (Pr3+) ions. From the XRD, Raman and DTA measurements, glasses structural and thermal properties were determined. The experiments were performed with samples containing different concentrations of NPs controlled by heat-treatment of the glass. The enhancement of the Stokes luminescence with an increase of the NPs concentration was observed for these samples excited at 470nm. The influence of the NPs on the frequency upconversion (anti-Stokes) emissions of Pr3+ under excitation at 586nm was also investigated, in resonance with the 3H4→1D2 transition. The excited Pr3+ ions exchange energy in the presence of the nanoparticles, originating efficient conversion from orange to blue. The enhancement in the intensity of the luminescence at ∼493nm, corresponding to the 3P0→3H4 transition, is due to the influence of the large local field on the Pr3+ ions, which are located near the metallic nanoparticles. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]