Photoluminescence of a silver-doped glass

The absorption, emission and excitation spectra of Ag⁺ ions in a soda lime glass doped with two different concentration of silver are investigated. Absorption spectra exhibit a main broad band peaked at about 260 nm (4.77 eV) with a shoulder at about 227 nm (5.46 eV). The relative height of the shoulder depends on silver concentration in the glass. Emission spectra of Ag⁺ are dominated by an ultraviolet broad band at about 330 nm (3.76 eV). The excitation spectra for this emission show a preponderant broad band peaked at about 227 nm (5.46 eV) which coincides with peak position of the shoulder displayed in the optical absorption spectra. A weak broad featureless emission band centred at about 550 nm (2.25 eV) with an excitation peak at about 242 nm (5.12 eV) is tentatively related to an impurity from the host silica glass rather than originated in silver-type centres. Comparison of the luminescence decay curves for both emissions show substantial differences between them. Consequently, the emissions in the time-resolved spectra can easily be discriminated.