Enhanced luminescence of Er+3-doped Zinc-Lead-Phosphate Glass embedded SnO2 nanoparticles

Introduction of the nanoparticles in the bulk glass received a large interest due to their versatile application. The composition of Er+3-doped Zinc-Lead-Phosphate glass samples are prepared by melt-quenching technique. The structural and optical properties of phosphate glass have been examined by x-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy and UV-Vis-NIR scanning spectrophotometer. The x-ray diffraction pattern has confirmed their amorphous nature and the field emission scanning electron microscopy micrograph showed the distribution of nanoparticles in glass. The study indicates that doped SnO2 nanoparticles have an influence on the band gap energy that decreases with the increasing amount of nanoparticles. The photoluminescence spectra showed three peaks at the green-orange region of the visible spectrum and four times enhancement for doped 0.25% SnO2 nanoparticles. The enhancement in the luminescence intensity of the green-orange region is found to be due to the effective local field of nanoparticles. The optical properties motivate to use these glassed as novel luminescent optical materials.