Silver-based quantum dot glass

This letter demonstrates the successful synthesis of Ag₂S and AgInS₂ quantum dots (QDs) within sol-gel derived Ag+/In+ doped nanoporous aluminosilicate glass by H₂S gas treatment at room temperature. The QDs exhibit high crystallinity, uniform distribution, and average sizes of 3.4 nm and 3.1 nm, respectively. Photoluminescence analysis reveals near-infrared emission at 980 nm for Ag₂S and visible emission at 620 nm for AgInS₂, with the latter displaying a pronounced blue shift due to quantum confinement effects by nanoporous glass matrices. This method offers a simple, scalable, and efficient approach for synthesizing metal sulfide QDs, positioning nanoporous glass as a versatile matrix for developing advanced optoelectronic materials.