Nanoplasmonics has opened up the gates for numerous innovations. Recent studies showed that metal nanoparticles, when introduced into the solar cells and organic light emitting diodes, would greatly enhance their efficiencies. Though these advances are promising, they require a tool for investigating the interactions occuring at the microscopic level to further optimize their performance. In that context, we are interested in understanding the energy transfer mechanism between molecules in the vicinity of metal nanoparticle. Time-resolved fluorescence intensity and anisotropy experiments on single and clusters of Silver-Silica core-shell nanoparticles coated with Rhodamine B(RB) dye molecules, (Ag-SiO2-RB) were performed. We witnessed the signature of the interaction between RB molecules and metal nanoclusters in the form of the enhanced fluorescence intensity decay rates. The fluorescence lifetime of RB in the vicinity of the nanoparticles was (600 +/- 100) ps, as compared to (2.4+/-0.3)ns in the absence of nanoparticle. While the anisotropy of RB molecules in the absence of nanoparticle has remained almost constant(0.075+/-0.029) over long times; anisotropy in the presence of particles showed wide range of values immediately after excitation. Surprisingly high anisotropy values, at about 10 ns after excitation, were observed with a mean of about (0.145+/-0.025). We interpret the high and low initial anisotropies of the clusters, relative to the case of RB alone, to be due to the interaction of dye molecules with collective plasmon modes of the clusters. / Thesis (Master, Physics, Engineering Physics and Astronomy) -- Queen's University, 2011-06-30 23:29:38.658

Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais / The SNABP [40SiO2.30Na2CO3.1Al2O3.25B2O3.PbO2 (mol%)] glass system, nanostructured with PbS Quantum Dots (QDs) and/or doped with Er3+ ions, was successfully synthesized by the Fusion Method, when it was subjected to appropriate thermal annealing. The glass transition temperatures (Tg) were obtained by Differential Thermal Analyze (DTA), in which it was possible to define a suitable temperature to be used in the thermal annealing of the synthesized samples. As results of these thermal annealing, the formation and growth of PbS QDs have occurred in the glass environment. The optical properties of samples were investigated by Optical Absorption (OA), Photoluminescence (PL), and Photoluminescence with Temporal Resolution (PLTR). Moreover, the Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) and X-Ray Diffractometry were employed in study of morphological and structural properties of samples, respectively. The size dispersions of PbS QDs were determined from OA spectra. Once using both the Method and OA data, it was also possible to estimate the average diameters of these nanoparticles, which grow with the increase in annealing time. The characteristic transitions of Er3+ ions were clearly identified in OA spectra. In addition, it was observed that the increase in annealing time of samples had provoked amplification in the overlapping between PL bands of both the PbS QDs and Er3+ ions, as well as with the absorption 4I15/2 -> 4I13/2 of these ions. Thus, the PLTR measurements have confirmed the decrease in lifetime of the 4I13/2 level (of Er3+ ions), with the amplification in the overlapping of PL emissions. Finally, as a main result of this work, it was proved that the SNABP glass system, nanostructured with PbS QDs and doped with Er3+ ions, displays to be quite favorable to the radiative energy transfer process (from PbS QDs to Er3+ ions), as well as the occurrence of stimulated emission of 4I13/2 level. / O sistema vítreo SNABP [40SiO2.30Na2CO3.1Al2O3.25B2O3.PbO2 (mol%)] nanoestruturado com pontos quânticos (PQs) de PbS e/ou dopados com íons Er3+ foi sintetizado com sucesso pelo Método de Fusão, quando submetido a tratamentos térmicos apropriados. As temperaturas de transição vítrea (Tg) foram obtidas por Análise Térmica Diferencial (DTA), em que foi possível definir uma temperatura adequada para ser utilizada nos tratamentos térmicos das amostras sintetizadas. Como resultados desses tratamentos térmicos, a formação e crescimento dos PQs de PbS ocorreram no ambiente vítreo. As propriedades ópticas das amostras foram investigadas por Absorção Óptica (AO), Fotoluminescência (PL) e Fotoluminescência com Resolução Temporal (PLRT). Além disso, a Microscopia de Força Atômica (AFM) e Difratometria de Raios-X (DRX) foram empregadas no estudo das propriedades morfológicas e estruturais das amostras, respectivamente. As dispersões de tamanho dos PQs de PbS foram determinadas a partir dos espectros de AO. Com a utilização do Método e os dados de AO, foi também possível estimar os diâmetros médios dessas nanopartículas, que aumentaram com o aumento no tempo de tratamento térmico. As transições características dos íons Er3+ foram claramente identificadas nos espectros de AO. Em adição, foi observado que o aumento no tempo de tratamento das amostras provocou um aumento na sobreposição entre as bandas de PL dos PQs de PbS e dos íons Er3+, bem como com a absorção 4I15/2 -> 4I13/2 desses íons. Assim, as medidas de PLRT confirmaram o decréscimo no tempo de vida do nível 4I13/2 (dos íons Er3+) com o aumento dessa sobreposição das emissões de PL. Finalmente, como principal resultado deste trabalho, foi comprovado que o sistema vítreo SNABP nanoestruturado com PQs de PbS dopados com íons Er3+ mostrou-se bastante favorável ao processo de transferência de energia radiativa (dos PQs de PbS para os íons Er3+), bem como a ocorrência da emissão estimulada do nível 4I13/2. / Mestre em Física