Sensitizing of Sm3+ fluorescence by silver dopant in the TiO2 films

Abstract

Abstract:Composite material based on a TiO 2 matrix doped with Sm 3+ ions and co-doped with silver was investigated. Samarium ions together with nano-and micro-aggregates of silver were incorporated into the titanium alkoxide during the sol-gel process. Samarium ions were excited either directly (λ exc = 488 nm) or through the TiO 2 host (λ exc = 355 nm). It was revealed that samarium fluorescence (λ exc = 488 nm) in gelled TiO 2 films is enhanced by up to 20 times in the vicinity of silver inclusions. Sensitizing and plasmonic mechanisms of enhancement in Sm 3+ fluorescence are discussed.

Rare Earth‐Doped Anatase TiO2 Nanoparticles

“…No complete splitting of Stark components caused by ligand field that are obvious at room temperatures and are in correspondence with the literature is attributed to the large number of defect at the surface [18,29,34,35,42]. When directly excited, the enhancement of Sm 3+ emission in TiO 2 by codoping with silver dopant, caused by combined influence of plasmonic effects and sensitizing of Sm 3+ emission by silver ions, is reported in TiO 2 films [85].…”