MICROCRYSTALLINE PBS DOPED SILICA GLASSES PREPARED BY THE SOL-GEL PROCESS

The sol-gel process has been applied to the preparation of small size PbS crystal doped silica glasses. Silica glasses containing 1.8 and 4.5 wt% PbO were prepared by hydrolysis of Si(OC2H5)4 and Pb(CH3COO)2·3H2O and subsequent reaction with H2S gas to form fine, cubic PbS microcrystal doped glasses. The microcrystal size (2 to 10 nm in diameter) was dependent on H2S gas reaction temperature. The absorption edge exhibited a blue shift of ∼ 2.0 eV from that of the bulk PbS crystal. Thus the quantum size effect was found for glasses containing PbS prepared by the sol-gel process. © 1990.