Green Synthesis of Metal Nanostructures and Its Nonlinear Optical Properties

Abstract

Simple green synthesis of metal nanoparticles (Ag NPs) was prepared by using Raphanussativus leaf extract. This extract acts as reduce and stabilizing agent. The formation of silver NPs was confirmed and characterized by XRD, UV–visible absorption spectrum, TEM, and FTIR. The luminescence enhancement and quenching of Eu3+and Sm3+ ions were observed in the presence of silver NPs. The luminescence enhancement is owing to arise in the electric-dipole transition with alteration of the field around Ln3+ ions. Nonlinear studies in femtosecond (fs) and picosecond (ps) time scales have been studied by using the Z-scan technique. Third-order nonlinear optical susceptibility of silver nanoparticles was obtained with Degenerate Four-Wave Mixing (DFWM) in the fs regime. The lifetimes of lanthanum complexes were increased by the concentration of silver NPs and decreased for further silver. The high enhanced luminescence and nonlinear studies of green synthesized silver nanoparticles can be used in optics and bio applications.

1. Introduction

Nanoparticles are the building blocks for many materials and contribute to the rapid growth of nanoscience [1]. There has been wide interest in silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) due to their unique properties arising from shape, size and composition finding their applications in sensing devices, bio-labelling, catalyst, electronics, photonics, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and biomedicine, etc. [2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7]. For the applications of environmental friendly NPs in various fields, development of easy preparation methods using nontoxic and nonhazardous materials and methods is needed. Biosynthesis route has many advantages compared to other synthesis methods, as these routes do not use high temperature, pressure, energy and toxic elements. Recently, several groups reported on the synthesis of biocompatible Ag NPs using natural sources like fungi, yeast, bacteria [8, 9, 10, 11, 12] and plant extracts [13, 14, 15, 16]. The properties of biosynthesized metal or bimetallic.

NPs are different from those synthesized from chemical methods and laser ablation methods [17, 18] because they are highly stable, nontoxic and biocompatible as the surfaces of the NPs are coated with biogenic surfactants. Biosynthesized metal NPs have biomedical applications like antimicrobial coatings (e.g. antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral activity, antiparasite) [19, 20, 21, 22], drug deliveries [23], medical imaging [24], anticancer NPs [25], medical diagnostics, sensors [26], catalytic degradation of organic pollutants to enhance membrane treatment processes [27] and also as optical limiters [28, 29] in the field of optics.

The Raphanussativus leaves belong to the Brassicaceae family, call it Radish and it is root vegetable. Derivatives and various components of Raphanussativus consist of 2- Hexen −1- al (leaf aldehyde) 3- hexane −1- ol (leaf alcohol) and n- isobutyraldehyde and isovaleraldehyde, sapogenin, methin, levon, phosphatase, histamines and spasmolytic components, lysine, polyphenolic, Sulphoraphene, vanillic acids and raphanin, those are having various medicine utilities. These bio-molecules consist in the extract are binding on the surface of nanoparticles and reduce the ions to NPs, additionally keeping stabilize the nanoparticles.

Lanthanide (Ln³⁺) complexes are of great interest due to their large Stoke shifts, long emission lifetimes, and narrow emission bandwidths. Metal-enhanced luminescence of rare-earth ions is of great interest because of their applications in laser materials, nano-photonics, LEDs, and biosensors [30]. Few groups investigated that enhancement or quenching of luminescence is depending on the concentration, shape, and size of metal nanoparticles based on the interaction of metal nanoparticles and luminescence centres [31, 32]. In the presence of metallic nanostructures, the field around the rare-earth ions can alter the emission and excitation [33, 34]. The literature reported that luminescence enhancement is because of energy transfer between Ln³⁺ complexes and metal NPs [35]. Quantum yields and lifetimes are influenced by changing the decay rate of radiative and non-radiative transitions [36]. Nevertheless, the process elaborated in Ln³⁺ ion luminescence with Ag NPS is not clear and hence, essential to address which is a promising and fascinating challenge.

Here, we have synthesized silver nanoparticles by using Raphanussativus leaf extract. The aim of the work is to discuss the origin of the effect of Ag NPs on enhancing and quenching the luminescence intensity of Ln³⁺ complexes and their nonlinear optical properties.

2. Experimental details

2.1 Materials and methods

AgNO₃ (Silver nitrate, 99.99%) was procured from Sigma Aldrich. Raphanussativus leaves were got from the market. Lanthanum complexes Eu(TTFA)₃ and Sm(TTFA)₃ were obtained from Soltech BioScience and Rare Earth products Inc., USA.

2.2 Preparation of Raphanussativus leaf extract

First Raphanussativus leaves were wiped using distilled water. 10 grams of Raphanussativus leaves have taken into 100 ml of distilled water and heated for 5 minutes and grinded in a pestle. The mixture solution was filtered with Whatman no. 1 filter twice to get rid of granules and refrigerated at 4°C.

2.3 Synthesis of Ag NPs using Raphanussativus leaf extract

1.5 ml of freshly prepared leaf extract was poured into 30 ml of silver nitrate (1 mM) aqueous solution with stirring at room temperature. Then, the solution changed from transparent to ash color in 5 minutes, which represents the formation of silver nanoparticles. The nanoparticles were stable for few months. Preparation process can be shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1.

Synthesis of Ag nanoparticles.

2.4 Sample preparation for luminescence studies

Rareearth ions europium and samarium of weight ratio of 0.28% were dissolved. Various concentrations of silver nanoparticles (0.16, 0.33, 1, 1.6, 2.32, 3.32 and 6.64 μM) were added to 0.10, 0.13, 0.20 μM of europium and 1.32, 1.45, 1.58 μM of samarium for luminescence studies.

3. Characterization techniques

The green synthesized silver nanoparticles and Lanthanide complexes with silver nanoparticles were characterized using XRD, TEM, FT-IR, UV–visible absorption, luminescence studies, Z-scan, degenerate four-wave mixing (DFWM), and decay measurements techniques. XRD pattern of silver nanoparticles was measured on Cu-K_α X-ray radiation with λ = 1.5406 Å over the range of 2θ = 5–50° at 1° min⁻¹. A transmission electron microscope (TEM) on FEI TECHNAI G² S-Twin was used to measure the diameter and morphology of nanoparticles. FT-IR spectrum was performed using Thermo-Nicolet 6700 spectrophotometer with a 500–4000 cm⁻¹ range. UV–Vis spectra were carried out by JASCO-V670 UV/VIS/NIR spectrometer with 1 nm resolution and 200–800 nm range. Luminescence emission spectra of Ln³⁺ complexes with silver nanoparticles were performed on HORIBA JOBIN YVON spectrophotometer with 262 nm and 350 nm excitations. Nonlinear absorption and optical limiting studies were performed using the Z-scan with laser source of Nd: YAG laser at 532 nm, 30 ps and 10 Hz repetition rate; and 1 kHz, 110 fs pulses of Ti: sapphire at wavelength 800 nm. Degenerate four-wave mixing (DFWM) measurements were studied with Ti: sapphire laser in box-car geometry. Luminescence decay studies were performed on FLS980 with an excitation source as a Xenon lamp.

4. Results and discussions

4.1 X-ray diffraction (XRD)

XRD spectrum of Ag NPs confirms the crystalline nature in Figure 2. Diffraction patterns of silver nanoparticles at 38.1°, 43.9°, 64.6° and 77.3° and corresponding the planes (111), (200), (220) and (311) are compared with standard spectrum [37]. Which showed the silver nanoparticles are having FCC formation. The diffraction reflection at (111) is sharp and high intensity as compared to the planes at (200), (220), and (311). It demonstrates that silver nanocrystals were oriented along the (111) plane. The unassigned reflections at marked with #, 27.7° and 32.2° were related to the biological phase appearing on the silver nanoparticles’ surface. Therefore, these results indicate that the silver nanoparticles were formed. Both the TEM results and XRD results are in good agreement.

Figure 2.

X-ray diffraction spectrum of silver nanoparticles.

4.2 Transmission electron microscope (TEM)

The morphology, size distribution, and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) circular patterns of silver nanoparticles were exhibited in Figure 2. From Figure 3(a–c), the Ag NPs are nanospheres in shape, crystalline, and size is about 7 nm respectively. The planes (111), (200), (220), and (311) from the SAED pattern were exhibiting FCC structure from Figure 3(d).

Figure 3.

(a) TEM figures (b) high-resolution TEM (HRTEM) image (c) particle size distribution and (d) SAED circular patterns of silver nanoparticles.

4.3 UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy

UV–Vis linear absorption of silver nanoparticles with 240–800 nm range areas displayed in Figure 4. The absorption spectra were measured at various concentrations of silver nanoparticles added to 3 ml of distilled water and silver nanoparticles with Eu and Sm complexes at various concentrations.

Figure 4.

UV–visible spectra of (a) silver nanoparticles with various concentrations: a) 0.16, b) 0.33, c) 1.0, d) 1.60, e) 2.32, f) 3.32, g) 6.64 and h) 9.96 μM. Inset displays the linear absorption of silver nanoparticles at 460 nm with increasing silver. (b) Various concentrations of europium ions in ethanol are: i) 0.13, ii) 0.20, iii) 0.26, iv) 0.33, v) 0.99, vi) 1.98 and vii) 3.3 μM. (c) Various concentrations of Ag NPs with 0.13 μM europium solution: A′) 0.16, b′) 0.33, c′) 1.0, d′) 1.60, e′) 2.32, f′) 3.32 and g′) 6.64 μM. Inset figure exhibits the absorption of silver nanoparticles at different concentrations in (0.13 μM) europium solution at 460 nm.

UV–visible absorption spectrum of various concentrations are (0.16, 0.33, 1.0, 1.60, 2.32, 3.32, 6.64 and 9.96 μM) of silver nanoparticles as depicted in Figure 3(a). The band at 262 nm is becoming strong as increase the concentration because the number of organic compounds absorption is increasing, which helps to reduce the silver ions. The plasmonic band of silver nanoparticles at 460 nm is increasing with an increase in the concentration from 0.16 μM to 9.96 μM. The inset shows the absorption of silver NPs is increasing linearly at 460 nm i.e. the nanoparticles are not agglomerating with concentration.

The absorption spectrum of europium complex with various concentrations (0.13, 0.20, 0.26, 0.33, 0.99, 1.98 and 3.3 μM) as displayed in Figure 4(b). The linear absorption peaks at 262 nm and 342 nm corresponding to π → π* transition due to complex absorbance and n → π* transition of europium and occurrence of the shoulder at (1.99 and 3.3 μM) higher concentrations due to strong interaction among the europium molecules [38].

The absorption spectrum of europium complex (0.13 μM) with various concentrations (0.16, 0.33, 1.0, 1.60, 2.32, 3.32, and 6.64 μM) of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) and the absorption bands appeared at 262 nm, 342 nm, and 460 nm as seen in Figure 4(c). The absorption band in the range of 300–400 nm is shifted to red slightly because the interaction of silver nanoparticles and europium molecules i.e. the Plasmon field of silver nanoparticles is influencing the europium ions but the surface plasmonic peak of Ag NPs at 460 nm is not altering. The inset shows a linear increase in absorption with silver NPs, suggesting that nanoparticles are not agglomerating in the complex solution.

Absorption spectrum of samarium complex (1.45 μM) with various concentrations (0.16, 0.33, 1.0, 1.60, 2.32 and 3.32 μM) of silver nanoparticles as depicted in Figure 5. The absorption band at 265 nm corresponds to the π → π* transition of the samarium complex and biological components in the extract, and bands at 342 nm and 460 nm correspond to the n → π* transition of samarium and plasmonic peak (SPR) of silver nanoparticles. Samarium complex concentration (1.45 μM) is more as compared with silver nanoparticles so the bands of samarium (265 nm and 342 nm) are predominating the SPR.

Figure 5.

Linear absorption spectrum of samarium complex (1.45 μM) with various concentrations are a) 0.166 b) 0.33 c) 1.0 d) 1.60 e) 2.32 f) 3.32 and g) 9.96 μM of Ag NPs.

4.4 Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) technique

FT-IR spectrum displays the Raphanussativus leaf extract used for biosynthesis of Ag NPs in Figure 6. The Silver suspension was loaded on a potassium bromide (KBr) pellet and dried. The FT-IR peaks of silver nanoparticles appeared at 3315 cm⁻¹ indicate hydroxyl –OH stretching; 2929 cm⁻¹ and 2834 cm⁻¹ assigned to stretching C-H modes of methyl groups; 1636 cm⁻¹ assigned to carbonyl (–C=C) stretching; 1382 cm⁻¹ attributed to –C-O stretching mode of water-soluble organic components like polyphenols, alkaloids, and flavonoids in Raphanussativus extract; 1040 cm⁻¹ indicate the C-O alcoholic stretching group. These results concluded that the organic compounds of the extract are responsible for making nanoparticles [39, 40, 41, 42].

Figure 6.

FT-IR Spectrum of Raphanussativus leaf extract used for biosynthesized silver nanoparticles.

4.5 Photoluminescence studies

The excitation spectra of europium complex (λ_em = 614 nm) at various concentrations (0.03, 0.07, 0.13, 0.20, 0.26, 0.66, 1.99 and 3.3 μM) as shown in Figure 7. The bands in the range 250–400 nm are due to π → π* transitions of Eu. At very low concentrations of europium (0.03 μM and 0.07 μM), the broadband appears at 340 nm. As increase the concentration (0.13–0.66 μM), the new band appeared at 270 nm and 340 nm band splits into two bands which results, strong interactions among the europium complex in the solution phase and depend on the concentration of europium. As increase the concentration further (1.99 μM and 3.3 μM), 270 nm and 340 nm bands shifted to the blue region, and the 270 nm band has vanished. Even for further concentrations, the 370 nm band shifted to the red region, which indicates that the interaction among europium ions enhanced.

Figure 7.

Excitation spectra of europium complex (λ_em = 614 nm) at various concentrations (0.03, 0.07, 0.13, 0.20, 0.26, 0.66, 1.99 and 3.3 μM).

The emission spectra of the europium complex excited with 262 nm as shown in Figure 8. The band at 614 nm (⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂) is a hypersensitive electric-dipole transition, a dominant peak. The magnetic dipole transitions are at 577 nm and 590 nm (⁵D₀ → ⁷F₀ and ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₁). Inset displays the figure of concentration of silver nanoparticles with the intensity of electric dipole transition (⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂) in europium complex. As increase, the concentration of silver nanoparticles, affect the ligand field surrounding the europium ions, consequently enhance the electric dipole transition rate. The ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂ transition enhanced its intensity 25 times up to the 6.64 μM of silver nanoparticle and quenching slowly exceeding 6.64 μM in 0.13 μM europium solution. Hence, we emphasize the effect of silver on the europium luminescence emission intensity of electric dipole transition (⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂).

Figure 8.

Emission spectra of europium complex (λ_exc = 262 nm). The inset figure displays the ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂ transition on various silver nanoparticle in europium complex (0.13 μM).

The emission spectra of europium (λ_exc = 350 nm) with various (0.16, 0.33, 1.0, 1.60, 2.32, 3.32 and 6.64 μM) of silver nanoparticles as seen in Figure 9. The luminescence emission intensity of ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂ transition starts enhanced and maximum at 1.6 μM of silver NPs and gets quenched for further increase the silver in europium (0.13 μM) and the enhancement factor is ∼5. In the spectra of excitation, Ag NPS cannot intensify the europium ions excitation at 262 nm and 350 nm, nanoparticles absorption (400–550 nm) is uncertain at excitation wavelengths, although it enormously affects the luminescence centers of europium ions in the emission. At excitation wavelength around absorption of silver (350 nm), the intensity of the electric field increased certain times induce an intensification in luminescence intensity by a few hundred times. The enhancement of luminescence intensity because of the overlap of europium emission and the scattering of nanoparticles which bank on the gap of NPS [33, 43, 44]. The distance of NPS reduces, the scattering at 612 nm overlay on the emission enlarges appearing in the increment of luminescence intensity. Similarly, the intensity decreases with the distance of nanoparticles increases. The luminescence increment was observed only at 0.13 μM concentration of europium and at other concentrations of 0.10, and 0.20 μM, the luminescence is quenching. That means, the enhancement of luminescence intensity purely depends on the concentration, distance, size, and shape of nanoparticles.

Figure 9.

Emission spectra of europium with various silver nanoparticles: a) 0.16, b) 0.33, c) 1.0, d) 1.60, e) 2.32, f) 3.32 and g) 6.64 μM excited with 350 nm. Inset figure shows dependence of luminesce intensity with silver concentration. Eu concentrations are (a) 0.1 (b) 0.13 and (c) 0.2 μM.

At 260 nm excitation, the enhancement factor is high as compared with 350 nm excitation, which is caused by the biological components in extract and ligand enhance the luminescence effectively and the overlap of emission europium and scattering of silver, luminescence efficiency will be high.

To understand the luminescence enhancement alteration on various lanthanides, we also obtained the emission of the samarium complex. The emission spectra of samarium with different concentrations of silver nanoparticles (0.16, 0.33, 1.0, 1.60, 2.32, 3.32, and 6.64 μM) at 350 nm excitation as can be seen in Figure 10. The inset picture exhibits the luminescence emission versus silver concentration with varying samarium concentrations (1.32, 1.45, and 1.58 μM). The luminescence intensity is noticed at 1.45 μM of samarium. The transitions at 645 nm (⁴G_5/2 → ⁶H_9/2) electric dipole, 566 nm (⁴G_5/2 → ⁶H_5/2), and 602 nm (⁴G_5/2 → ⁶H_7/2) are magnetic dipole transitions. The enhancement factor of electric dipole transition is 7.4 at 2.32 μM of silver. For more increases in silver, the enhancement factor decreases [45, 46]. The enhancement factors for magnetic dipole transitions at 566 nm are 1.9 and 602 nm is 5.2. The scattering can alter by altering the distance of nanoparticles. Hence, the change in luminescence intensity overlay on the scattering and emission spectra as in the case of europium. So this is the reason for emission intensity quenched at 1.32 μM and 1.58 μM of samarium as depicted in the inset.

Figure 10.

Emission spectra of samarium 1.45 μM with silver nanoparticles: a) 0.16, b) 0.33, c) 1.0, d) 1.60, e) 2.32, f) 3.32 and g) 6.64 μM excited with 350 nm. Inset shows the dependence PL intensity on silver concentration at various samarium concentrations (a) 1.32 (b) 1.45 and (c) 1.58 μM.

4.6 Nonlinear optical properties

Nonlinear absorption coefficients were obtained by using the Z-Scan technique with Nd: YAG laser, repetition rate 10 Hz, 30 ps pulses with 532 nm, and Ti: Sapphire laser, 1 kHz, 110 fs pulses with 800 nm. The nonlinear absorption studies of the biosynthesized silver nanoparticles solution were studied using an open aperture Z-scan set up (Figure 11) [29, 47]. In the Z-scan setup, the Gaussian profile of the laser beam is concentrated with the lens. The silver solution in a 1 mm thickness quartz cuvette is moving along the Z-direction through-beam-focused direction. A focus point, the silver sample undergoes maximal intensity and slowly reduce from the focal point in both directions and the f/40 configuration is operated here. The width of the sample undergoes less than the Rayleigh range (3 mm). For beam, shaping apertures are used, and to change the intensity of laser neutral density filters are used. The experimental data is measured by examining the sample along with the focus and saving the data by boxcar averager (model SRS 250) with an analog-to-digital (ADC) card to a computer. The absorption coefficient (${\alpha }_2$) for open aperture Z scan is measured by fitting the transmittance equation

Figure 11.

Z-scan experimental set up a) open aperture b) closed aperture.

$$T_{\mathit{OA}\left(2\mathit{PA}\right)}=1-\frac{{\alpha }_2{I}_0{L}_{\mathit{eff}}}{2^{3/2}\left(1+z^2/z_0^2\right)}$$E1

Where, I₀ - intensity at focus on the sample, z - sample position, λ - laser wavelength, z₀ = πω₀²/λ is Rayleigh range, ω₀ - beam waist at the focus (Z = 0), ${\alpha }_2$- nonlinear absorption coefficient, and L_eff - effective path length is${\mathrm{L}}_{\mathrm{eff}}=\frac{1‐{\mathrm{e}}^{‐\alpha {}_{0}L}}{{\alpha }_0}$, L - sample length, ${\alpha }_0$ is the linear absorption coefficient.

Figure 12(a) displays the Z-scan data of open aperture and varying input intensities of silver nanoparticles. The symbols are the experimental data, those are fitting theoretically (solid curves) using Eq. 1. These curves showed reverse saturable absorption (RSA) behavior in biosynthesized silver nanoparticles, which are ascribed to the excitations from the plasmonic band to the free carrier absorption band of silver nanoparticles and two-photon absorption (TPA) from the ground state. We determined α₂ is 10.2 × 10⁻⁹ cm²/W at various intensities 1.2 GW/cm²–3.9 GW/cm². These coefficients are not altering much at input intensities.

Figure 12.

(a) Z-scan of silver nanoparticles with various input intensities and (b) optical limiting curve with 532 nm.

Optical limiting experimental curves of silver nanoparticles as shown in Figure 12(b). The threshold optical limiting value is 4 mJ/cm². Nonlinear scattering is not observed so optical limiting is due to two-photon absorption (TPA) and excited-state absorption (ESA) from SPR.

Similarly, Figure 13(a) illustrates the open aperture Z-scan data measured for silver nanoparticles with a wavelength of 800 nm at different input intensities from 4.7x10¹¹–7.7x10¹¹ W/cm². Solid lines give the fits theoretically acquired by Eq. (2). RSA behavior of open aperture data gives the two-photon absorption (TPA). The two-photon absorption coefficients are 1.6x10⁻⁹ – 3.8x10⁻⁹ cm²/W measured from theoretical fitting. The optical limiting data of silver nanoparticles with femtosecond laser is shown in Figure 13(b). The optical limiting threshold value is 1.2 mJ/cm². So bio-reduced silver nanoparticles displaying good optical limiting behavior in both regimes and silver nanoparticles can behave as broadband optical limiters [29, 48].

Figure 13.

(a) Z-scan of silver nanoparticles with various input intensities and (b) optical limiting curve with 800 nm.

4.7 Degenerate four-wave mixing technique (DFWM)

By using Ti: Sapphire laser with 800 nm, the third-order nonlinear susceptibility was obtained. Carbon disulfide (CS₂) has taken reference to the same input powers to measure third-order nonlinear susceptibility χ⁽³⁾ of silver nanoparticles using Degenerate Four Wave Mixing set up (Figure 14). The temporal profile of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles is shown in Figure 15. The cubit fit of the DFWM signal provides the nature of the third-order susceptibility. The inset picture gives the slope of silver nanoparticles, it is approximately ∼4. It shows that the DFWM signal has the contribution of two-photon absorption due to the electronic polarizability of the ground state alone. The χ⁽³⁾ was obtained as 2.95 X 10⁻¹⁴ esu for silver nanoparticles by the following equation

Figure 14.

Four wave mixing experimental set up.

Figure 15.

Temporal response of DFWM signal of silver nanoparticles with 0.9 mg/l. inset picture gives the DFWM signal versus input intensity at zero delays. The solid line gives linear fit.

$${\chi }_{\mathit{\text{sample}}}^{\left(3\right)}={\left(\frac{n_{\mathit{\text{sample}}}}{n_{\mathit{ref}}}\right)}^2{\left(\frac{I_{\mathit{\text{sample}}}}{I_{\mathit{ref}}}\right)}^{1/2}\left(\frac{L_{\mathit{ref}}}{L_{\mathit{\text{sample}}}}\right)\alpha L_{\mathit{\text{sample}}}\left(\frac{e^{\frac{\alpha L_{\mathit{\text{sample}}}}{2}}}{1-e^{-\alpha L_{\mathit{\text{sample}}}}}\right){\chi }_{\mathit{ref}}^{\left(3\right)}$$E2

Where L - path length of the sample, n - refractive index, I - DFWM signal intensity, and α - absorption coefficient.

The second-order hyperpolarizability (γ) is measured by the equation.

$${\chi }_{\mathit{\text{sample}}}^{\left(3\right)}=T^4\left[N_{\mathit{\text{solvent}}}{\gamma }_{\mathit{\text{solvent}}}+N_{\mathit{\text{sample}}}{\gamma }_{\mathit{\text{sample}}}\right]$$E3

T - local field factor, $T=\frac{n^2+2}{3.}$

Where, n - refractive index, N- number density of the solvent and the sample, and γ is the second-order hyperpolarizability. The Number density N can be written as $N=N_0{C}_s/1000$

Where $N_0$-Avogadro number and C_s -concentration of the solution

Second-order hyperpolarizability is obtained as 2.1 X10⁻³² esu for silver nanoparticles. The nonlinear refractive index is measured from χ ⁽³⁾ as 6.57 x 10⁻¹⁶ cm²/W. For reproducibility, the experiment was repeated twicely [49].

4.8 Decay measurements

The decay curve of europium ions (⁵D₀ level) in various concentrations of silver nanoparticles was obtained with 350 nm excitation. The decay profile of 0.13 μM of europium ions with silver nanoparticles (1.60 μM) was measured by monitoring the ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂ transition at 612 nm as shown in Figure 16(a). The decay curves are having single exponential behavior. Average decay time (τ) is obtained by below equation

Figure 16.

Fluorescence decay rate of (a) europium and (b) samarium complexes monitoring at 612 nm and at 645 nm bands excited with 350 nm in 1.60 and 2.32 μM of silver nanoparticles respectively.

$$\tau =\frac{\int \mathit{tI}\left(t\right)\mathit{dt}}{\int I\left(t\right)\mathit{dt}}$$E4

From the data, it is clear that the lifetime increase with the concentration of Ag NPs (1.60 μM) then decreases rapidly for further increase the silver at a particular concentration of europium. The lifetime was increased from 275 μs to 361 μs, from 0 to 1.60 μM concentration of Ag NPs, then decreased lifetime for further increase the nanoparticles. The alteration of a lifetime follows the same tendency as the emission intensity in the presence of Ag. As the increase in the asymmetric ratio (⁵D₀ → ⁷F₂/ ⁵D₀ → ⁷F₁), the decay rate of radiative transition increases than the decay rate of non-radiative transition of europium [50]. This shows that the presence of nanoparticles reduces the loss of energy due to non-radiative decay [51].

Similarly, the decay profile of the ⁴G_5/2 level samarium (1.45 μM) ions in the presence of silver NPs (2.32 μM) excited at 350 nm and monitoring 645 nm emission band as shown in Figure 16(b). The decay is also single exponential with silver. Average decay τ values for samarium increases from 16 μs to 31 μs for 0 to 2.32 μM of silver and then reduces with an additional increase of silver. This behavior is due to enhancing in radiative decay rate. The samarium ions transmit energy to nanoparticles, then excited SPR converted into emission with enhancing luminescence efficiency consequently increase in lifetime. This is assigned to the luminescence emission intensity enhancing and quenching exhibited by samarium ions with silver. The lifetime of samarium ions is smaller as compared with europium ions may be because higher concentrations reduce the nonradiative decay rates.

5. Conclusions

• Introduced fast, simple, economic, and eco-friendly biological synthesized silver nanoparticles using Raphanussativus leaf extract.

• The Luminescence enhancement factor for europium ions is high compared to samarium ions. Rare-earth ions displaying luminescence emission intensity enhancement and quenching with silver nanoparticles are assigned to local field enhancement and decay processes.

• Third-order nonlinear optical properties of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles were studied in femtosecond and picosecond regimes.

• Nonlinear susceptibility was measured by the DFWM technique.

• Ag NPs show good nonlinear optical absorption and optical limiting properties.

• These non-toxic NPs show many applications such as luminophores in biomedical and the strong reverse saturable absorption make them be good optical limiters.