Impact of Ag Co-doping on photoluminescence of Ce-doped sodium borate glasses

Abstract This study investigates the structural, optical, and photoluminescent properties of Ce-doped sodium borate glasses co-doped with silver, synthesized via the melt-quenching technique. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analyses confirm the amorphous nature of the glass matrix and reveal the presence of both BO 3 and BO 4 structural units. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) provides direct evidence of metallic silver nanoparticle formation, with average sizes increasing from ∼2 nm in Ag-doped glass to ∼8 nm in Ag+Ce co-doped glass, suggesting that Ce co-doping influences Ag nucleation kinetics. UV-Visible absorption spectra show a distinct surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band for Ag glass at ∼417 nm, which is suppressed in the co-doped sample due to Ce-ion absorption . A significant redshift in the optical absorption edge and a reduction in the bandgap (E opt ) from 3.11 eV to 2.60 eV are observed upon doping, attributed to the formation of non-bridging oxygens. Photoluminescence (PL) spectra under 320 nm excitation exhibit intense blue emission for Ce-doped glass (5d to 4f transitions), which is significantly quenched in Ag-containing samples due to non-radiative energy transfer and LSPR-induced losses. CIE chromaticity analysis demonstrates color tunability from near-white to deep-blue regions, highlighting the potential of these glasses for specialized solid-state lighting applications.