Abstract
•Er3+ doped zinc phosphate glasses containing Ag NPS were synthesized using melt quenching technique.•A broad absorption band was observed around 403nm due to the surface Plasmon resonance (SPR) of Ag NPs.•The J–O parameters Ω2 and Ω6 are increased by increasing the concentration of silver NPs.•High quantum efficiencies, up to 83%, are reported after embedding the metal Ag NPs in phosphate glasses matrix.
The Er3+ doped zinc phosphate glasses containing Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPS) were synthesized from high purity raw materials by melt quenching method. The transmission electron microscopic (TEM) images confirm the presence of spherical silver NPs having average diameter in the range of 20–40nm. A wide absorption band peaking at about 403nm was observed due to surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of Ag NPs. The Judd–Ofelt (JO) parameters Ω2, Ω4 and Ω6, were determined for Er3+ ions using the absorption bands. The quality factor was determined and is found to be in the same order (0.52–1.12) than other host glasses. The enhanced photoluminescence (PL) intensity with Ag adding was attributed to the increased local field on the Er3+ ions located in the proximity of the NPs and/or the energy transfer from the metallic Ag NPs to the Er3+ ions. The absorption and emission cross-sections are calculated and determined for the 4I13/2→4I15/2 transition and then compared with other reported doped glasses. The phosphate glasses are promising gain media for developing the solid-state 1.53μm optical amplifiers.