Realization of efficient red laser using europium doped new boro-telluro-dolomite glass hosts: Ag nanoparticles functionality

Abstract

Achieving highly efficient visible red emission with high color purity from the rare earth ions doped glasses containing metallic nanoparticles is of scholastic significance in the quest of novel laser glass host. Stimulated by this demand, we synthesized some new class of silver nanoparticles (Ag – NPs) embedded europium ions (Eu3+) doped boro – telluro – dolomite glasses (hereafter coded as BTDEAx, where x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.8 and 1.0 mol%) by convectional melt quenching method. These glasses were optically characterized using UV – Vis – NIR absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy's to ascertain their lasing candidacy. The absorption spectra of the Eu3+ ion free sample (BTDA0.8) disclosed a single surface plasmon band characteristic of Ag – NPs at 464 nm. Meanwhile, the visible emission intensities (excited with 467 nm wavelength) of the glasses due to Ag – NPs inclusion were greatly intensified. Of all glasses, the sample prepared with 0.8 mol% of Ag NPs (BTDEAg0.8) revealed highest PL intensity enhancement. Furthermore, the attainment of high color purity (97.037 %) detected from the CIE diagram with chromaticity coordinates (0.63765, 0.36094) close to ideal red color phosphor (0.67, 0.33) indeed approved the suitability of the proposed glasses for solid state red laser construction.