Ag NP enhanced photoluminescence study of Sm³⁺ ions in solgel silica glasses

Abstract

Sm3+ ions singly doped and Ag NPs co-doped with Sm3+ ions for fixed concentrations of both Ag and Sm3+ ions in sol-gel silica glasses were fabricated and their spectroscopic behaviour studied. Phenomenological Judd-Ofelt (JO) theory has been utilized for the spectroscopic characterization of the studied samples. Significant enhancement in the Sm3+ ion emissions were observed with the addition of Ag NPs. The enhancement is attributed to the local surface plasmon resonance effect of the Ag NPs.