Plasmon enhanced frequency upconversion in Er3+/Yb3+ doped Y3O3 thin film by using gold film

A study is presented on Er3+/Nb3+ doped Y2O3 thin films, deposited on Au-coated and non-Au-coated quartz glass plates by using pulsed laser deposition. In order to investigate the effect of Au-film on upconversion luminescence of Y2O3:Er3/Yb3 thin film, the emission spectra from the films were recorded upon 980 nm laser diode excitation. Very interestingly, it was observed that the green upconversion is increased by 2.5 times in the Au-coated thin film. The peaks at 410 nm and 662 nm remain unaltered with the effect of gold thin film. This enhancement is thought due to the surface plasmon effect in presence of metal film over the Y2O3:Er3+/Yb3+ thin film. (author)