Dual coupled effects of low concentration gold nanorods on energy transfer and luminescence enhancement in Eu/Tb co-doped films.

Eu/Tb co-doped films with low concentration gold nanorods have been prepared using the solution process. The luminescence spectra investigations indicate that the introduction of nanorods can effectively enhance the energy transfer from Tb to Eu under excitation of 292 nm, because of the plasmonic coupling with excited Tb complex. Under excitation of 360 nm, the emission at 612 nm is enhanced, the enhancement factor increases and then decreases as the molar ratio of Tb and Eu increases. The luminescence enhancement is attributed to the metal enhanced luminescence resulting from plasmonic coupling with excited Eu complex. The dual effects of LSPR on energy transfer and emission enhancement are both observed. More details on the luminescence of Eu/Tb co-doped films with nanorods are demonstrated, which gain a deeper understanding of the interactions luminescent-particle and luminescent-luminescent.