Influence of silver nanoparticles on Er3+ up-conversion in CaF2 precipitated oxyfluoride glass-ceramics

The influence of silver nanoparticles on Er 3+ up-conversion in CaF2 precipitated oxyfluoride glass-ceramics is investigated.After heat-treatments, transmission electron microscopy images show that CaF2 nanocrystals precipitate in the glass matrix uniformity, and sliver nanoparticles are spread around the CaF2 nano-crystals simultaneously.Comparing with the samples without Ag doped, high efficiency up-conversion luminescences of Er 3+ at 540 and 658 nm are distinctly observed in the silver nanoparticles containing glass-ceramics by the 980-nm excitation.Moreover, since the intensity ratio of green and red emissions changes after silver nanoparticles precipitation, the up-conversion mechanism of Er 3+ is discussed.