Synthesis and enhanced photoluminescence in novel AucoreAu-Agshell nanoparticles embedded Nd-doped antimony oxide glass hybrid nanocomposites

Au_coreAu-Ag_shell nanoparticles and Nd³⁺ ions co-doped in a novel antimony(III) oxide based dielectric (glass) matrix were synthesized for the first time, by a new very simple single-step methodology involving selective thermo-chemical reduction without employing any external reducing agent. They were characterized by the evolution of UV-vis-NIR absorption and photoluminescence spectra, XRD patterns, TEM and SAED images. XRD and SAED indicate the building of core-shell nanoparticles through the formation of (1 1 1) and (2 0 0) planes whereas TEM advocates the generation of spherical and spheroidal particles of 22-107 nm sizes with various core morphologies. Photoluminescence upconversion exhibits two major emission bands of Nd³⁺ ions at 540 (green) and 649 (deep-red) nm which undergo about 5-fold intensity enhancement by the nanoparticles. Such enhancement is attributed to the local field effect induced by plasmonic Au-Ag nanoparticles to Nd³⁺ ions. These nanocomposites are promising for many nanophotonics applications.