Growth and optical properties of semiconductor nanocrystals in a glass matrix

Over the last 15 years nanocrystals embedded in a glass matrix have been a subject for studies of fundamental phenomena of quasiparticles (electrons, holes, excitons, phonons) quantum confinement in the nanosize semiconductor materials. Growth of the nanocrystals in a glass matrix is based on the thermodynamic process of the diffusion-controlled phase decomposition of oversaturated solid solutions. Three stages of the process in solutions prepared by co-melting, co-sputtering and ion-implantation techniques are discussed. It is shown that the growth technique makes it possible to vary the mean size of the particles, their size distribution and crystalline structure. The optical properties of nanocrystals of various semiconductor compounds grown in different glass matrices are discussed. Attention is given to studies of a fine structure of optical spectra at resonant size-selective spectroscopy for both “strong” and “weak” confinement regimes. Energy spectra of confined acoustic and optical phonons in a “strong” confinement regime, studied by resonant Raman scattering, are discussed.