High efficient luminescence of silver clusters in ion-exchanged antimony-doped photo-thermo-refractive glasses: Influence of antimony content and heat treatment parameters

Photo-thermo-refractive glass is now promising material for developing various elements and devices of photonics. The effect of variations in the Sb2O3 concentration in the photo-thermo-refractive glass composition on the spectral-luminescent properties of silver clusters formed with the low-temperature ion exchange is studied for the first time. The effect of temperature and duration of subsequent heat treatment of ion-exchanged glasses is investigated in detail. Silver clusters in the glasses are shown to possess broadband luminescence in the visible and NIR. Luminescent silver clusters in Sb-doped photo-thermo-refractive glasses reveal the absolute quantum yield up to 63% (λex=365 nm), which can be used effectively for developing luminescent sensors, white LEDs, and down-convertors for solar cells.