Erbium 1.55μm luminescence enhancement due to copper nanoparticles plasmonic activity in tellurite glasses

The effect of copper nanoparticles (CuNP) on the enhancement of the infrared and upconversion emissions intensities in the Er3+/Yb3+/Ce3+ co-doped transparent tellurite glasses under 980 nm laser diode excitation were investigated. The roles of Yb3+ and Ce3+ as sensitizers are also discussed. The nanoparticles-containing tellurite glasses structures were characterized by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements. The presence of the CuNP was confirmed by Transmission Electronic Microscopy (TEM) images. Also, the optical investigation of the glasses was performed by absorption and luminescence spectra, upconversion emission and luminescence lifetimes. The effectiveness of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of the CuNP provides an improvement about 47% of the infrared luminescence intensity. Moreover, the lifetime of 4I13/2 Er3+ energy level increased around 50% in the CuNP-containing samples. Thus, the Er3+/Ce3+/Yb3+-doped tellurite glass containing CuNP is suitable to be used in infrared optical devices. •The presence of the CuNP was confirmed by TEM images.•The CuNP increased about 47% of the infrared emission of 4I13/2 Er3+ level.•The lifetime of 4I13/2 Er3+ level increased 50% due to CuNP.•Er3+/Ce3+/Yb3+-doped tellurite glass with CuNP is a potential candidate for infrared optical devices.