Quantum-plasmonic engineering to improve the 1.53 µm radiative emission in Er3+-doped tellurite glasses under controlled temperature

Abstract

The plasmonic applications at low temperatures of metallic nanoparticles in glasses doped with rare-earth ions are not yet covered in-depth analysis in the literature. This paper insights into the coupling between gold nanoparticles and Er³⁺ embedded in tellurite glasses via luminescence enhancement of the emission centred at 1.53 µm under controlled temperature. This enhancement is obtained for the sample with 24 h of heat treatment (TErAu24) concerning the Er³⁺ single doped (TEr) at room temperature under 980 nm excitation. The enhancement remains under cooling conditions, consequence of the strong coupling between the plasmon and the Er³⁺, attributed to an increment of the localized plasmon mode volume at low temperatures. Further, the band area increment of the TErAu24 sample comparing the spectra at 98 and 348 K is 414 %, whereas for the TEr is about 348 %. These findings provide advanced understanding of the plasmonics on quantum emitters engineering.