Investigations of spherical Cu NPs in sodium lauryl sulphate with Tb3+ ions dispersed in PVA films

Abstract Cu nanoparticles (NPs) have been prepared in SDS solution using 1064 nm laser radiation at different fluence 37 J/cm 2 , 64 J/cm 2 and 88 J/cm 2 and structurally characterized. The TEM measurements reveal the presence of nanoparticles of spherical shape with different size. The size of the nanoparticles and their concentration increases with the increase of fluence.The effect of these Cu nanoparticles on the emissive properties of Tb 3+ ion in polymer films has been studied. It is found that emission intensity of Tb 3+ first increases and then deceases both with concentration of Cu NPs as well as with sizes. The PL intensity of Tb 3+ ions is minimum for Cu NPs prepared with highest fluence. It has been explained in term of local field effect. This was also verified by life time measurements. These thin PVA films of copper nanoparticles displayed a highly temperature-dependent electrical conductivity with sensitivity at least comparable to commercial materials which suggest the use of these copper NPs embedded PVA films as novel, low-cost sensor materials.