Wavelength-tunable absorption and luminescence of SiO2–Al2O3–ZnO–Na2O–K2O–NaF glasses with PbS quantum dots

• Published in: Journal of luminescence Vol. 143; pp. 418 - 422
• Main Authors: Loiko, P.A., Rachkovskaya, G.E., Zacharevich, G.B., Yumashev, K.V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01-11-2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Amorphous materials, glasses and other disordered solids; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Equations of state, phase equilibria, and phase transitions; Exact sciences and technology; Glass transitions; Heat-treatment; Lead sulfide; Materials science; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Optical constants: refractive index, complex dielectric constant, absorption, reflection and transmission coefficients, emissivity; Optical properties; Optical properties and condensed-matter spectroscopy and other interactions of matter with particles and radiation; Optical properties of bulk materials and thin films; Photoluminescence; Physics; Quantum dots; Specific phase transitions; Lead sulfide; Quantum dots; Optical properties; Heat-treatment; Aluminium oxide; Potassium oxide; Luminescence; Glass; Doped materials; Binary compounds; Zinc Oxides; Heat treatments; Tunable structures; Glass transition; Aluminium Oxides; Silicon oxides; Sodium oxide; Zinc oxide; Absorption spectra
• ISSN: 0022-2313; 1872-7883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jlumin.2013.05.057

Lead sulfide quantum dots (QDs) with average diameter of 3.0–6.5nm were grown in novel SiO2–Al2O3–ZnO–Na2O–K2O–NaF glasses highly-doped with PbO and elemental sulfur by means of single-stage heat-treatment at temperatures slightly lower the vitrification point. Introduction of two alkaline components to the glass system allows us to perform the synthesis without control of sulfur evaporation, while stabilization of PbS crystal nuclei was provided by addition of NaF. Optical absorption and photoluminescence of these PbS-QD-doped glasses were studied in dependence on treatment temperature (480–520°C) and duration (5–130h). The growth rate of QDs was substantially enhanced with the increase of treatment temperature. The position of 1S–1S excitonic absorption peak was tuned from 0.75 to 1.6μm, accompanied by management of peak absorption within 7–45cm−1 range. Intense Gaussian-shaped photoluminescence associated with radiative exciton recombination from 1S–1S state was observed in 1.1–1.6μm spectral range.
•SiO2–Al2O3–ZnO–Na2O–K2O–NaF glass doped with PbO and elemental sulfur.•Controllable growth of PbS quantum dots with average diameter of 3.0–6.5nm.•Detailed investigation of optical absorption and photoluminescence.•Influence of heat-treatment temperature (480–520°C) and duration (5–130h).•Variation of peak excitonic absorption coefficient within 7–45cm−1 range.