Amplification of blue emission of Tm 3+ ions in Li 2 O-HfO 2 -SiO 2 glass system by means of Au 0 metallic particles.

Li O-HfO -SiO -Tm O :Au O glass samples (containing fixed content of Tm O and different concentration of Au O ) were prepared and characterized. Bearing of Au metallic particles (MPs) on improving blue emission of thulium ions (Tm ) ions was explored. Optical absorption (OA) spectra exhibited multiple bands excited from H of Tm . Additionally, a broad peak in the wavelength range 500-600 nm due to surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of Au MPs was noticed in the spectra. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra (of thulium free glasses) indicated a peak in the visible range due to sp → d electronic transition of Au MPs. Luminescence spectra of Tm and Au O co-doped glasses exhibited intense blue emission with substantial increase of intensity with increase of Au O content. Bearing of Au MPs on the reinforcement of blue emission of Tm was discussed in detail with kinetic rate equations.