A novel fabrication strategy for alloyed Cd–Zn–S quantum dots–embedded glass with efficient red emission

Abstract

Quantum dots–embedded glasses (QDEGs) can combine the unique optical properties of QDs with high physicochemical stability and good mechanical properties of glasses, which have been widely investigated and applied in lighting and display. However, precise controlling the concentration and size distribution of QDs, and precipitating QDs with desired compositions or multicomponents in glass are still challenges for the traditional melt‐quenching method. Herein, a series of alloyed Cd–Zn–S QDEGs from green to red emission is successfully prepared via a novel fabrication strategy for the first time. Specifically, the solid‐solution precursors crack during the sintering process to form the well‐dispersed QDs with a narrow distribution, attributing to the gradient sulfur composition and the shearing force induced by the thermal migration of sulfur vacancies. Significantly, the quantum yield of Cd0.5Zn0.5S QDEG could reach 30%, among the top results of efficient red‐emissive QDEG materials. Finally, using QDEGs as light converters, a UV‐pumped warm white light–emitting diode with a correlated color temperature of 4238 K was achieved, which demonstrate the potential applications of the alloyed Cd–Zn–S QDEGs. These results will inspire more explorations on this fabrication strategy to develop novel QDEGs with a high optical performance for practical applications.