Enhancing the Nonlinear Optical Properties of Lithium Tetraborate Glass Using Rare Earth Elements and Silver Nanoparticles

Abstract

In recent years, nonlinear optics field is in constant growth, particularly on the characterization and study of optical properties of glass compounds. In this sense, the plasmonic effect caused by silver nanoparticles (SNP) on the nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of different materials was studied. Furthermore, we report the experimental absorption spectra, the emission spectra, Z-scan measurements in both closed and open apertures and scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) to show the morphology of the matrices and the nucleation of SNP. Moreover, some NLO parameters were calculated, such as the NL refraction index and NL coefficient absorption of lithium tetraborate (Li2B4O7) glass activated with rare earths (Dy3+ and Yb3+), as well as study of the effect of different concentrations of SNP. From the results obtained, it has been ascertained that the plasmon resonance caused by the presence of SNP enhances the NL refraction index value, as well as most of its linear optical properties in the matrix of Li2B4O7.

Tunable and plasmon-enhanced four-wave mixing on an aluminum grating

“…Recently, researchers have developed a variety of plasmonic nanostructures to enhance the nonlinearity of thin films [3]. For example, bow-tie-shaped gold elements [4,5], plasmonic nanogap cavity [6], nanohole array [7], individual nanohole [8], nanoparticles [9], doubly resonant Si nanoresonators [10], MoS 2 on a silicon waveguide [11], film-coupled silver nanostrips [12], graphene-based plasmonic gratings [13,14] and metal gratings [15][16][17][18][19] have been shown to largely enhance the nonlinear optical conversion efficiency. Moreover, heterostructures such as coupled semiconductormetal nanoparticle films [20], polymer/Ag/glass structure [21], and bilayer gold nanopillar-nanoaperture structure [22] have been demonstrated to enhance SHG.…”

Phosphate glasses containing silver nanoparticles for applications in plasmonics

“…Quantum dots doped glass systems are largely studied due to their promising full emissions in the visible spectrum for application in light-emitting devices [6,7]. Metallic nanoparticles, in turn, can be inserted into glasses for many optics-related uses, ranging from simple mirrors, solar concentrators, and photovoltaic devices for energy generation [8] to nonlinear optical properties studies of glass systems [9], SPR based sensors [10], and enhancement of luminescence of rare earth ions [11].…”