Molecular-like Ag clusters sensitized near-infrared down-conversion luminescence in oxyfluoride glasses for broadband spectral modification

Abstract

Molecular-like Ag clusters sized at 1–4 nm have been stabilized in Pb/Cd-free oxyfluoride glasses, showing broadband excitation/emission characteristics and unique wavelength-dependent luminescent performance with a maximal quantum yield of 26.9%. It was experimentally demonstrated that an energy transfer route of Ag clusters → Tb3+ → Yb3+ occurs in Ag+/Tb3+/Yb3+ tri-doped sample, wherein Ag clusters act as sensitizers for near-infrared down-conversion spectral modification. Hopefully, the proposed strategy that noble metal clusters being applied for harvesting solar radiation may potentially solve the sticky problems of the narrow excitation bandwidth and the low excitation efficiency in rare earth ions doped down-conversion materials.