Sui Generis Cerulean Fluorescence from YAG:Ce by Selective Plasmonic Mode Coupling with Silver Nanorods

Two dimensional metal nanostructures such as silver nanorods (AgNRs) exhibit a unique surface plasmon resonance (SPR) pattern involving transverse (TM) and longitudinal modes (LM). Such plasmonic near field is observed to have a profound effect on YAG:Ce nanoparticles placed in optimal proximity resulting in an unprecedented blue emission at TM excitation (383 nm). Unembellished YAG:Ce does not fluoresce under UV light incidence which implies that the phenomenon is exclusively due to modification of Ce3+ energy levels by plasmonic near field generated by AgNRs. Finite difference time domain (FDTD) electrodynamics simulation of near fields generated by exact AgNR and particle hybrids at TM, LM, and emission frequencies establish a cause-effect relationship. Plasmon-induced new emission from industrially important YAG:Ce nanophosphor opens up newer vistas for solid state lighting