Preparation and Characterization of Nanostructures in Glasses

Sodium borate and sodium-lead-germano-tellurite (SLGT) oxyfluoride glasses embedded with Er3+ and /or Ag were made by the melt quenching technique. Thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction and optical spectroscopy measurements were performed to characterize the glasses. Nanoparticles were induced by heat treating the glasses. Er3+ luminescence increased 4× due to enhanced field in the vicinity of silver particles. Strong room temperature upconversion emissions were observed at 415, 540, 554 and 667 nm from Er3+ doped SLGT sample under 972 nm Ti-sapphire laser excitation. Changes in the optical spectral characteristics supported the formation of nanocrystals.