Structure and nonlinear optical studies of Au nanoparticles embedded in lead lanthanum borate glass

• PbO–La2O3–B2O3 glass doped with Au nanoparticles was prepared by melt quenching method.
• TEM image reveals spherical Au nanoparticles, which are 2–9 nm in diameter.
• The non-linear (NLO) optical properties have been carried out for these glasses.
• These glasses find potential use in optical limiting devices due their RSA behavior.
• The lead lanthanum borate glass is a good nonlinear optical host matrix.

Metal nanoparticles of gold in various proportions were prepared by melt-quenching technique without any assistance of reducing agent. X-ray absorption near edge structure analysis shows that measurements at the Au L3 edge were made on lanthanum lead borate doped with gold. X-ray absorption near edge structure shows that the oxidation state of Au and the analysis show the presence of gold nanoparticles. Electron microscopy and energy dispersive absorption X-ray spectroscopy confirm the size of Au nanoparticle inside the lead lanthanum borate glass. Nonlinear optical studies of Au doped oxide glass are performed using nanosecond laser pulse excitation. Z-scan experiments with 532 nm wave-length pulses are used to excite glass samples which show that optical limiting effect of these as-prepared glasses doped with Au nanoparticle was also studied.