Photoluminescence properties of terbium-doped tin-oxide quantum dots

Tb$^{3+}$-doped SnO$_2$ quantum dots embedded in an SiO$_2$ glass matrix have been synthesized using a sol-gel technique. The optical properties of a series of these samples with constant Tb$^{3+}$ concentrations, but increasing SnO$_2$ concentrations were studied to determine the effect of concentration on the size of the nanocrystals and the dynamics of energy transfer between the SnO$_2$ donor and the Tb$^{3+}$ impurity ions. X-ray diffraction and TEM results confirm the presence of nanocrystals of less than 10 nm in diameter while photoluminescence results indicate that the Tb$^{3+}$ ions are indeed incorporated into a crystalline environment.