PbS nanocrystal synthesis in Pb-containing silicate glasses

Abstract

We describe a synthesis of PbS nanocrystals in glasses, involving 150keV sulfur implantation into Pb-containing silicate glasses at peak concentrations up to 3.6at.% and postannealing around the glass transition temperature (500–600°C). The PbS nanocrystals, whose growth is evidenced by transmission electron microscopy, display intense photoluminescence (PL) in the 1–1.5μm wavelength range. Besides bypassing the sulfur retention problem occurring in traditional glass fusion techniques, our method improves control over nucleation and growth. The latter is demonstrated by the impact on the PbS nanocrystal PL properties of progressively replacing CaO by ZnO in a S-implanted Pb glass.