Dual-band photoluminescence of lead selenide quantum dots doped oxyfluoride glass-ceramics containing BaF2 nanocrystals

• PbSe quantum dots were formed in oxyfluoride glass-ceramics containing BaF2 nanocrystals.
• Dual-band photoluminescence from PbSe quantum dots doped glass-ceramics was observed.
• Broad photoluminescence band as wide as ~ 500 nm was recorded.

In this work, PbSe QDs were precipitated in oxyfluoride glass-ceramics containing BaF2 nanocrystals. Tunable and broad absorption and photoluminescence from PbSe QDs doped glass-ceramics were observed in the near-infrared wavelength range. When the glasses were heat-treated at temperatures below 560 °C using one-step heat-treatment schedule, single photoluminescence band was observed from each sample. Upon high temperature (560 °C or 570 °C) one-step or two-step heat-treatment, dual-band photoluminescence was observed. These two photoluminescence bands in each spectrum were separated by a gap of ~ 110–150 meV, and as a result, effective full width at half maximum as large as ~ 500 nm was recorded.