Lead Chalcogenide Quantum Dot‐Doped Glasses for Photonic Devices

Abstract

Tunable absorption and photoluminescence (PL) of lead chalcogenide quantum dots (QDs) doped in glasses due to the quantum confinements effect have been actively investigated for application as saturable absorbers, laser sources, and fiber‐optic amplifiers. Optical properties of QDs have been carefully monitored by controlling their sizes through heat treatment and rare‐earth ion doping. Two‐ and three‐dimensional precipitation of lead chalcogenide QDs were also realized using silver ion exchange and femtosecond laser irradiation in combination with thermal treatment. Prototypes of microstructured single‐mode fibers and tapered fiber amplifiers containing QDs proved potentials of these materials for fiber‐optic amplifiers application. Further research works on QD‐doped solid core fibers, surface passivation of quantum dots and their application for the mid‐infrared optical devices are necessary.

Quantum‐dots‐precipitated rare‐earth‐doped glass for ultra‐broadband mid‐infrared emissions

“…Similar broadened spectra were also reported in other RE‐doped glass containing QDs. For example, Liu and Heo investigated the effects of different Tm 2 O 3 concentrations on the formation of PbS QDs. The results show that their superimposed emission range is approximately 1100‐2100 nm, which is much narrower and shorter than the present work (1400‐2600 nm).…”

“…In addition to the RE ions, transition metals and noble metals, is there any other possible methods to tailor the MIR luminescence of RE‐doped glass? Over the past decade, the quantum dots (QDs) precipitated glass and optical fiber with NIR and MIR emissions have drawn increasing attention . Compared with RE ions, the QDs with narrow bandgaps were widely investigated for various optoelectronics fields.…”

Glass and Process Development for the Next Generation of Optical Fibers: A Review

“…Additionally, the maximum Ln 3+ concentration that can be obtained in these NCs is limited by the limited solubility of Ln 3+ ions [61][62][63], their short-distance diffusion in glass [64][65][66] and the large volume fractions of 25%-35% of the in-situ grown NCs (NCs/glass vol/vol) [67,68]. Furthermore, the continued growth of in-situ-grown NCs, which could occur during a post-annealing or during a reheating process, such as fiber drawing, inhibits the application of glass ceramics [69]. The continued growth of NCs can increase the light scattering and so the optical loss in the resulting glass/fiber.…”

Energy transfer process and temperature‐dependent photoluminescence of PbS quantum dot‐doped glasses

“…Recently, all‐solid‐state PbS QD‐doped glass fibers which can be used as gain media for fiber lasers and fiber amplifiers were fabricated through “melt‐in‐tube” method by our group . However, previous investigations of QD‐doped glasses were mainly concentrated on fabrication and controllable PL …”