Enhancement of PbSe QDs formation with B2O3 content in borosilicate glasses

PbSe quantum dots (QDs) were precipitated in borosilicate glasses, and effects of B2O3 content on the optical properties of glasses were investigated. The diameters of the PbSe QDs in glasses increased from 3.70 nm to 7.32 nm as [B2O3] increased from 10 mol% to 20 mol% even when all glasses were heat-treated at 460 °C for 10 h. Photoluminescence (PL) peaks extended to wavelengths of 2154 nm when B2O3 content increased to 20 mol%. The viscosities η of glasses at 460 °C decreased significantly with the addition of B2O3 i.e., 2.86 × 1013 Pa·s at [B2O3] = 0.0% to 1.94 × 1011 Pa·s at [B2O3] = 20%. These decreases in η led to a large increase in the diffusion of ions in glass matrix including Pb2 + and Se2 − that facilitated the precipitation and growth of PbSe QDs in glasses. These results demonstrate that the wavelength of PL emissions by QDs can be controlled by manipulating the composition of the host glass.