CdSe nanocrystals in novel phosphate glass matrix

The CdSe nanoparticles have been prepared in the novel glass matrix P₂O₅–Na₂O–ZnO–Li₂O. The prepared nanoparticles and glass matrix are characterized by differential thermal analysis, X-rays diffraction, UV–vis optical absorption, and infrared spectroscopy. X-rays diffraction and optical absorption show that both of the annealing temperature and time play an important role in nanoparticles’ growth. The well-annealed and high-temperature-annealed samples suggest Zn atoms to substitute Cd atoms to form an additional ZnSe–CdSe system. Infrared spectroscopy confirms the decrease of the Zn-content in the host glass due to growing of nanoparticles, causing long phosphate chains within.