Significant greenish–yellow emission from Dy³⁺/Sm³⁺ co-doped strontium–aluminate–telluro-borate glasses: role of Ag and CuO nanoparticles interplay

Various lanthanides-doped and plasmonic nanoparticles (Nps) included oxide glasses with tunable optical properties are advantageous for miniaturized solid-state lasers and white light-emitting displays making. Thus, the absorption and emission characteristics of a new type of Dy₂O₃/Sm₂O₃-doped strontium–aluminate–telluro-borate glasses (prepared using the melt-quenching approach and characterized comprehensively) were customized by inserting copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONps) and silver nanoparticles (AgNps). XRD analysis of the samples showed their amorphous nature. HRTEM images displayed the dispersion of CuO/AgNps in the disordered matrix. Intense yellow (⁴F_9/2 → ⁶H_11/2) and blue (⁴F_9/2 → ⁶H_13/2) luminescence from Dy³⁺ were observed at 386-nm excitation. The observed enhancement in the luminescence intensity was mainly due to the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR)-mediated strong local field effect and energy transfer processes, wherein the synergism of CuO/AgNps played a significant role. Judd–Ofelt model calculation revealed approximately 23-fold improvement in the spectroscopic quality factor. Additionally, the CIE coordinates were shifted from the yellowish–orange to greenish–yellow region. The proposed glasses may be useful for practical applications such as in multicolor lasing and optical amplification.