Atom Probe Tomographic Imaging of PbS Quantum Dot Formation on Neodymium Clusters in Silicate Glasses

Abstract

The first 3-D direct observation of clusters of Nd oxide inside silicate glasses was achieved using atom probe tomography. Three-dimensional elemental maps of major chemical elements in glasses such as Si, Al, Zn and O showed no evidence of regions that had concentrations higher than the average values, whereas the Nd aggregated into regions of high concentration. Elemental maps of Nd and Pb recorded from the glasses containing PbS QDs showed highly-concentrated areas of both elements at the same locations; this result indicates that PbS QDs formation started in association with the Nd clusters.

Identification of core/shell structure in Cd‐Zn‐Se QDs inside silicate glasses using 3D elemental distribution analysis

“…26 Local electrode atom probe has been used to analyze the formation of PbS QDs on neodymium clusters in silicate glasses. 27 They observed with regions of high concentrations of Nd strongly overlapped with Pb concentrations. Chae et al 28 also used LEAP to visualize the core-shell structure in their colloidal QDs of CdSSe and ZnS, respectively.…”

“…Therefore, local electrode atom probe (LEAP), that combines laser pulsing and local electrode into an atom probe was developed to expand the application of atomic probe tomography to semiconductors and insulators 26 . Local electrode atom probe has been used to analyze the formation of PbS QDs on neodymium clusters in silicate glasses 27 . They observed with regions of high concentrations of Nd strongly overlapped with Pb concentrations.…”

Structure and disorder in Pb‐Na metasilicate (PbO:Na2O:2SiO2) glasses: A view from high‐resolution 17O solid‐state NMR

“…and diverse lead-bearing quantum dots (e.g., PbS). [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] Because of the potential environmental and health risk by the exposure of Pb from the Pb-bearing materials, there are restrictions on using Pb. 25 Such a remarkable glass-forming ability of Pb-bearing silicate glasses and the slower dissolution behavior of Pb can be explained from the short-range configurations around Pb and oxygens (e.g., 9,11,12,26 ).…”

“…PbO‐SiO 2 glasses with Na 2 O can be utilized for coating of thermoelectric materials due mainly to their thermal stability 13,14 . Pb‐bearing silicate glasses have been reported to be potential effective host materials for oxide nanoclusters 15,16 and diverse lead‐bearing quantum dots (e.g., PbS) 17‐24 . Because of the potential environmental and health risk by the exposure of Pb from the Pb‐bearing materials, there are restrictions on using Pb 25…”