Luminescence enhancement of Eu³⁺-doped multicomponent tellurite glasses by surface plasmon resonance

A series of silver nanoparticle-embedded multicomponent Eu³⁺-doped tellurite glasses are prepared using the technique of melt quenching and the effects of the addition of Ag nanoparticles on its spectroscopic properties of the as-synthesized glasses were systematically examined in detail. The basic compositional, thermal, and structural properties and the mechanism of energy transfer between luminescent centers were investigated. EDS detected all the elements expected in the glass composition including Ag nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction reveals the amorphous glassy nature and TEM analysis evidenced the formation of a homogeneous allocation of Ag nanoparticles having the average particle size of 10 nm in the matrix. This result supported by the band at 495 nm corresponds to surface plasmon resonance in the UV–Vis–NIR absorption spectrum of Eu³⁺/Ag-co-doped glass. Judd–Ofelt parameters, emission probabilities, radiative lifetime, branching ratio of luminescence, and the stimulated cross-section for prominent ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂ transition were calculated by evaluating the emission spectra. Photoluminescence analysis provides an experimental observation of three-fold enhancement in the fluorescence of the Eu³⁺ ions in tellurite glasses for 0.3 mol% of the Ag co-doping, and a subsequent quenching in luminescence intensity is observed for further addition of Ag dopant. The enhancement in luminescence is accredited to the localized electric field produced by the silver metal. These glasses under investigation exhibit interesting spectroscopic properties that propose them to be utilized for lasers, photonic applications, and color displays.