Energy transfer between CdS nanocrystals and neodymium ions embedded in vitreous substrates

Experimental evidence has been observed for energy transfer from CdS nanocrystals, synthesized by the fusion method, to Nd(3+) ions embedded in vitreous substrates. These dot samples doped with neodymium have been investigated by combined optical absorption (OA), photoluminescence (PL), and time-resolved photoluminescence (PLRT) techniques. Radiative and nonradiative energy transfers between CdS dot and Nd(3+) ion levels, to our knowledge not reported before, can be clearly observed in the PL spectra where the emission band valleys correspond exactly to the energy absorption peaks of the doping ion. The PLRT data reinforce these energy transfer mechanisms in which the increasing overlap between the CdS PL band and the OA to the Nd(3+) levels decreases stimulated emissions from the doping ions.