Reduction of non-radiative decay rates in boro-tellurite glass via silver nanoparticles assisted surface plasmon impingement: Judd Ofelt analysis

We report an enhancement in the absorption and emission cross-section of erbium ions (Er3+) inside zinc-boro-tellurite glass due to the impingement of silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs) into the host matrix. The impacts of varying Ag NPs concentration on the spectroscopic, structural, and thermal properties of such glass samples are evaluated. Synthesized glass samples are characterized using imaging and spectroscopic tools. XRD spectra confirmed the amorphous nature of glass samples and EDX spectra detected appropriate elements present in the glass including Ag. TEM micrographs revealed the distribution of Ag NPs with average size ~8.4 nm. FTIR spectra exhibited the fundamental stretching vibrations modes of glass network. Two surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peaks of Ag are divulged at 550 and 580 nm. Bonding parameters displayed the ionic nature of the Er−O metal-ligand linkages. Judd-Ofelt analysis is performed to calculate the radiative transition probability, stimulated emission cross-section, radiative lifetime and branching ratio for the excited levels of Er3+ ions in the prepared glass system. Intensity parameters and quality factors are calculated. Silver NPs impingement is found to augment the luminescence intensity by a factor as much as 3.32 times than the glass without NPs. The decay curves for the 4S3/2 level of Er3+ ion are recorded under 476 nm excitations, where the emission at 550 nm is registered. The lifetime is elongated from 6.36 μs to 9.07 μs with increasing silver NPs concentration from 0.0 to 0.9 mol%. Present glass compositions are established to be promising for the development of photonic devices.