Silver nanoparticles enhanced photoluminescence of Nd3+ doped germanate glasses at 1064 nm.

Infrared photoluminescence (PL) properties of PbO-GeO 2 glasses containing neodymium ions (Nd 3+ ) and silver nanoparticles (NPs) were investigated. The excitation was made with a continuous-wave diode laser operating at 805 nm, in resonance with the Nd 3+ transition 4 I 9/2 → 4 F 5/2 . Growth of ∼160% in the PL intensity at 1064 nm, was observed in comparison with a reference sample without silver NPs. The PL enhancement is attributed to the increased local-field in the Nd 3+ locations nearby the NPs. The present results indicate that PbO-GeO 2 glasses containing Nd 3+ and silver NPs have good prospect to be used in optical amplifiers at 1064 nm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]