Growth of CdS_xSe_1-x nanoparticles in glass matrix by isochronal thermal annealing: confined acoustic phonons and optical absorption studies

Abstract

We have studied the thermal stability of CdS_0.88Se_0.12 nanoparticles embedded in a glass matrix as a function of isochronal thermal annealing from 25 °C to 650 °C. The average size and the size distribution of the particles have been determined from the detailed analysis of optical absorption spectra based on the available results of tight binding calculations and also from the low frequency Raman band which can be attributed to the confined acoustic phonons. It is shown that the particles are stable upto 550 °C but grow in size after heating at 650 °C.