Enhanced solid-state lighting performance of AuNPs-embedded Dy₂O₃-containing La₂O₃-Na₂O-TeO₂-B₂O₃ glasses

A new set of La₂O₃-Na₂O-TeO₂-B₂O₃ glasses, infused with Dy₂O₃ and containing gold nanoparticles in various concentrations, has been prepared using a conventional melt-quench process. These glasses have been characterized by their structural and optical properties, as determined by XRD, HR-TEM, UV–visible absorption, luminescence emission and excitation spectra, and decay time examinations. X-ray diffraction data confirmed the glass network's amorphous nature, and all fundamental characteristics were evaluated. The HR-TEM investigation evidenced the uniform growth and dispersion of sphere-shaped AuNPs in the glass network. UV–Vis–NIR absorption data exhibited a single huge halo pattern that corresponded to AuNP SPR and ten bands that corresponded to Dy³⁺ transitions. The down conversion visible emission spectra under excitation wavelength of 389 nm demonstrated three emission bands positioned at 484, 575, and 662 nm, associated with transitions ⁴F_9/2 → ⁶H_15/2, ⁴F_9/2 → ⁶H_13/2, as well as ⁴F_9/2 → ⁶H_11/2, respectively, corresponding to Dy³⁺ transitions. The widely accepted hypothesis, Judd-Ofelt theory, has been utilized for discussing luminescence and absorption spectra. AuNP effect on the luminescence characteristics of Dy³⁺ ions has been thoroughly explored. Inclusion of AuNPs increases the downconversion emission intensity of the blue and yellow colour band regions of Dy³⁺ ions. Glass with 0.010 mol% AuCl₃ exhibited the highest emission intensity augmentation for all transition bands of Dy³⁺ ions. The strongly confined electric field of AuNPs located close to Dy³⁺ ions was primarily responsible for the increase. The increased Dy³⁺ emission has been understood in terms of the AuNP-induced local field effect. The potent emission of blue and yellow light shows that the Dy³⁺-doped lanthanide sodium borotellurite embedded with AuNPs is a promising material for white light emission applications.