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ZnSe and ZnS nanocrystals (NCs) were precipitated in glasses through heat-treatment. High resolution transmission electron microscope image confirmed that ZnSe NCs were formed in the silicate glasses, and the X-ray diffraction patterns confirmed that ZnS NCs were precipitated in the borosilicate glasses. Absorption shoulders of the ZnSe NCs and ZnS NCs appeared at ~ 2.76 eV and ~ 3.78 eV, corresponding to the bandgap energies of bulk ZnSe and ZnS crystals, respectively. Instead of the intrinsic emissions, broad-band visible photoluminescence from the surface defects or color centers in the glasses was observed from these ZnSe or ZnS NCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Optical properties of PbS quantum dots (QDs) precipitated inside the oxide glass matrix were investigated. Photoluminescence (PL) from the PbS QDs showed peak wavelengths located at 1170–1680nm with widths of 150–550nm. Radii of QDs in glasses were 2.3–4.7nm depending upon the thermal treatment. Peak wavelengths of PL bands shifted as much as 70nm as the temperatures and excitation irradiances increased. Calculated effective local temperatures indicated that these shifts of PL spectra were associated with local heating induced by the temperatures and laser beam. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: CdSe quantum dots (QDs) were precipitated in silicate glasses under various durations and temperatures of heat-treatment. Absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the QDs showed the quantum confinement effect from CdSe QDs. When the glass was heat-treated for 10h, estimated average QD sizes increased from 5.2nm when the glass was heat-treated at 490°C and to 6.9nm when it was treated at 500°C. When the glass was heat-treated at 480°C, estimated average QD sizes were 4.9nm after 20h and 5.3nm after 30h. The PL peak position was independent of the excitation wavelengths; this result indicates that the size distribution of CdSe QDs was narrow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Embedding CdTe QDs into glass can improve the thermal and chemical stability of QDs, which facilitates their wide and endurable applications. However, the small tunable spectral range of photoluminescence, low quantum efficiency, and large full width at half maximum limit their wide applications. In this work, effect of introduction of CaO into glass matrix on the formation and optical properties of CdTe QDs is investigated. High concentration of CaO in glasses increases the solubility of Te in glasses, and consequently hinders the precipitation of CdTe QDs in glasses. By adjusting the heat-treatment temperature, average diameters of CdTe QDs are tuned in the range of 2.5–9.0 nm and their photoluminescence bands are tuned from 550 to 800 nm. More importantly, the absolute photoluminescence quantum yield is boosted up to 41.9 %. Results reported in this work indicate that CdTe quantum dots embedded in glasses are promising for applications in light-emitting devices. • High CaO concentration promote the dissolution of Te in the glass. • Photoluminescence of CdTe QDs doped glass is tuned from 550 nm to 800 nm. • PLQY of CdTe QDs doped glasses reaches 41.9 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead selenide quantum dots (QDs) were precipitated in lithium-aluminum-silicate glass-ceramics. Their optical properties and the crystallization behavior of both glass host and PbSe QDs were investigated. When the glasses heat-treated at 480–520 °C for 10 h, the absorption bands from PbSe QDs were tuned from 1051 to 2016 nm, and the PL bands from 1165 to 2095 nm. Upon the dwelling time 10 h, the crystallization of glass host required relatively higher heating temperature (∼490 °C) than the formation of PbSe QDs (∼480 °C). With the heat treatment at 490 °C for10 h, the PLQY from PbSe QDs in glass-ceramics reached ∼38.7 %. Phase separation induced the glass crystallization and had a significant effect on the distribution of PbSe QDs. To study the growth kinetics of PbSe QDs, the glasses were heat treated at 480 °C and 500 °C for various durations. The average diameters of PbSe QDs (D) showed exponential relationship to the growth time (t), described by the equation D(t)∼ t x. In rapid growth stage, the growth exponents x is ∼ 0.56 at 480 °C and ∼ 0.47 at 500 °C, and then decrease to ∼ 0.13 and ∼ 0.10, respectively. The formation of a large number of LiAlO 2 crystals in glass hindered the diffusion of semiconductor ions, which is the main reason for the decreasing in the growth rate of PbSe QDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead chalcogenide quantum dots have particular optoelectronic properties induced by the quantum confinement effects and have promising potentials towards applications in infrared spectral range. Modulation of the optoelectronic properties of lead chalcogenide quantum dots is mainly based on the thermal treatment. In this work, precipitation and optical properties of alloyed PbSe x S 1-x quantum dots in glasses are investigated. Composition, size, absorption, and photoluminescence properties of PbSe x S 1-x quantum dots are modulated by chalcogen elements in glasses and thermal treatment. By adjusting the concentration of ZnSe and ZnS in the glasses, average diameters of the PbSe x S 1-x quantum dots are tuned in the range of 8.1–16.1 nm, their absorption peak wavelengths are tuned in the range of 724–2497 nm, and photoluminescence bands are tuned in the range of 1016–2165 nm with full width at half maximum in the range of 167–517 nm. Fraction of Se in the PbSe x S 1-x quantum dots precipitated in glasses is dependent on the concentrations of ZnSe and ZnS in the glass and heat-treatment temperature. Increase in concentration of S in the glasses results in the reduction of relative fraction of Se in the PbSe x S 1-x quantum dots formed in glasses. More importantly, high heat-treatment temperature promotes the enrichment of Se in PbSe x S 1-x quantum dots, and Se fraction in PbSe x S 1-x quantum dots increases from 0.69 to 0.89, from 0.53 to 0.85, from 0.47 to 0.79, and from 0.45 to 0.76 for those precipitated in glasses with ZnSe/(ZnSe+ZnS) molar ratios of 0.545, 0.375, 0.286, and 0.231, respectively. Increase in ZnSe/(ZnSe+ZnS) molar ratios in glasses also leads to reduction in diameter of PbSe x S 1-x quantum dots formed in glasses. These alloyed PbSe x S 1-x quantum dots also exhibit improved photoluminescence quantum yields and enhanced resistance to thermal quenching of photoluminescence. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]