The major goal of this research is to investigate fundamental science associated with processing and molecular structure of compound semiconductor quantum dots embedded in glass matrices. Quantum dot structures having nanometer size clusters of semiconducting materials (for example, cadmium telluride, gallium arsenide, or indium phosphide) are formed by classical thermal treatments of glasses supersaturated with the semiconducting material, and by depositing the semiconducting materials from the vapor phase onto glass with controlled pores. Time and temperature parameters for deposition are determined using thermal analysis techniques, such as differential scanning calorimetry and differential thermal analysis. The materials are being characterized using small angle x-ray scattering, electron microscopy, magic angle sample spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
