Lead Sulfide Quantum Dots Formation in Glasses Controlled by Erbium Ions

Abstract

This paper reports the effect of Er2O3 concentration on nucleation and optical properties of PbS quantum dots (QDs) formed in a silicate glass under heat treatment at 490° or 500°C. As Er2O3 concentration increased from 0.1 to 0.4 mol%, average radii of PbS QDs decreased from ∼5 to ∼4 nm, and peak wavelengths of absorption and photoluminescence also decreased. Clusters of Er3+ ions connected by bridging oxygens may act as the nucleation centers for PbS QDs.

Lead Chalcogenide Quantum Dot‐Doped Glasses for Photonic Devices

“…Formation of lead chalcogenide QDs in glasses can be controlled by thermal treatment, doping different amount of rare‐earth ions, precipitation of silver nanoparticles, or various combinations of them. Glass with nominal composition of 50SiO 2 ‐34Na 2 O‐5Al 2 O 3 ‐8ZnO‐2ZnS‐1PbO (mol%) was used as a mother glass . Starting powders were melted in an alumina crucible at 1350°C for 60 min.…”

“…It is well known that rare‐earth doping has been frequently used to provide the nucleation centers for functional nanocrystals in glasses . Doping rare‐earth ions into the glasses may also provide the nucleation centers for quantum dots, and thus provide an alternative way to control the size and distribution of quantum dots in glasses . Effects of rare‐earth ion concentrations on the formation of quantum dots were investigated using the same glass composition described in Section II.…”

“…Glasses with lead chalcogenide QDs also can be used for light sources and photonic devices utilizing their unique photoluminescence. For these applications, it is important to control the sizes of QDs precisely to realize the photoluminescence at desired wavelengths . In section II, recent progresses for the controlled formation of lead chalcogenide QDs in glasses will be reviewed and the preliminary attempts for the device fabrication will be introduced in section III.…”

Direct Imaging of the Distribution of Nd3+ Ions in Glasses Containing PbS Quantum Dots

“…However, controlling the size of QDs precisely using heat treatment only is nontrivial, since slight changes in temperatures often lead to uncontrolled and abnormal growth of QDs with a broad size distribution. Several other methods such as ion‐implantation, femtosecond laser irradiation, and rare‐earth ions doping have been investigated . Ion‐implantation affords control over the spatial distribution of QDs but only within a shallow depth from the surface of the glass .…”

Novel PbSe nanocrystals doped fluorogermanate glass matrix

“…This high interest is motivated by the unique properties of nanomaterials with different sizes and morphologies associated with the nanoscale applications as photoelectric devices, drug delivery, sensors, filters, coatings, thermoelectrics and chemical catalysis [11][12][13][14]. Nanocrystals should be incorporated into chemically and mechanically stable solid matrices and glasses to be suitable for practical applications [6,15]. Germanate glasses superior to other glasses by its high thermal, chemical and mechanical stability [16][17][18].…”