Sol–gel glasses with enhanced luminescence of laser dye Rhodamine B due to plasmonic coupling by copper nanoparticles

We present the possibility to increase the emission of Rhodamine B (Rh B) as a result of its interaction with surface plasmons (SF) created by copper nanoparticles (Cu NPs). The optical absorption and emission of Rh B with Cu NPs incorporated into glass films formed by sol–gel method were studied by steady state and picosecond spectroscopy. The observed increased luminescence is the result of interaction of the excited state of the dye with scattered light created by copper plasmons and possible energy transfer from the excited Cu NPs which occur at femptosecond time range. The steady state absorption, excitation, fluorescence and lifetimes excited by picosecond pulses were measured. The quantum efficiencies of the films were obtained by comparative method.