One-step synthesis and properties of monolithic photoluminescent ruby colored cuprous oxide antimony oxide glass nanocomposites

Cuprous oxide (Cu2O) antimony glass (K2O–B2O3–Sb2O3) monolithic nanocomposites having brilliant yellow to ruby red color have been synthesized by a single-step melt-quench technique involving in situ thermochemical reduction of Cu2+ (CuO) by the reducing glass matrix without using any external reducing agent. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared transmission and reflection spectra, and selected area electron diffraction analysis support the reduction of Cu2+ to Cu+ with the formation of Cu2O nanoclusters along with CuySb2−x(O,OH)6–7 (y ≤ 2, x ≤ 1) nanocrystalline phases while Cu0 nanoclusters are formed at very high Cu concentration. The UV–vis spectra of the yellow and orange colored nanocomposites show size-controlled band gap shift of the semiconductor (Cu2O) nanocrystallites embedded in the glasses while the red nanocomposite exhibits surface plasmon resonance band at 529 nm due to metallic Cu. Transmission electron microscopic image advocates the formation of nanocystallites (5–42 nm). Photoluminescence emission studies show broad red emission band around 626 nm under various excitation wavelengths from 210 to 270 nm.

Research highlights► Single-step synthesis of Cu2O, CuySb2−x(O,OH)6–7 (y ≤ 2, x ≤ 1) and Cu nanocrystals co-doped novel antimony oxide glass hybrid nanocomposites. ► Yellow and orange colored nanocomposites shows size-controlled band gap shift of Cu2O. ► Red nanocomposite exhibits surface plasmon resonance band due to metallic Cu. ► They exhibit broad deep-red photoluminescence emission under various UV excitation wavelengths.