Surface-Enhanced Fluorescence of Erbium Ions on Copper Nanoparticles Containing Tellurite Glasses

A novel erbium-doped tellurite glass containing copper nanoparticles (CuNP) prepared by a melting-quenching method is reported. The efficient coupling between CuNP and Er 3+ ions rendered a strong emission enhancement, reaching maximum values on the order of 10 times for the intensity of the 4 I 9/2 → 4 I 15/2 and 2 H 11/2 → 4 I 13/2 transitions, at 794 nm and 805 nm, respectively. The energy transfer mechanism of the coupling between CuNP dipoles and Er 3+ ions was also discussed. Graphical Abstract