Size-dependent luminescence of Sm3+ doped SnO2 nano-particles dispersed in sol-gel silica glass

作者：Yanes A C; Mendez Ramos J^*; del Castillo J; Velazquez J J; Rodriguez V D

来源：Applied Physics B: Lasers and Optics , 2010, 101(4): 849-854.

DOI：10.1007/s00340-010-4331-0

Sol-gel glasses with composition (100-x)SiO2-xSnO(2) doped with 0.4 mol% of Sm3+, with x ranging from 1 to 10, have been successfully synthesized. Transparent doped nano-glass-ceramics were prepared by thermal treatment of the precursor glasses at 900A degrees C during 4 hours, leading to nanocomposites comprising SnO2 nanocrystals embedded into an amorphous SiO2 phase. A structural analysis in terms of X-ray Diffraction and High Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy confirms the precipitation of SnO2 nanocrystals within the glassy matrix. The mean radius of the obtained SnO2 nanocrystals, ranging from 2.1 to 4.7 nm calculated by the Scherrer and Brus equations, similar to the Bohr's exciton radius, constitutes a wide band-gap semiconductor quantum-dot system. Energy transfer from SnO2 nanocrystal host to Sm3+ ions is confirmed by luminescence spectra and analyzed as a function of SnO2 concentration, showing an evolution that could be ascribed to selective excitation of nanocrystal sets with predetermined size. Besides, a study of the luminescence as a function of temperature helps to clarify the involved energy transfer mechanisms.

• 出版日期2010-12