Solubility limit of Mn2+ ions in Zn1−x Mn x Te nanocrystals grown within an ultraviolet-transparent glass template

This paper reports on the synthesis of Zn1−x Mn x Te nanocrystals (NCs) (with 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.800) within a PZABP glass system (P2O5–ZnO–Al2O3–BaO–PbO) using the fusion method. The as-grown samples were investigated by optical absorption measurements, atomic force microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Raman spectroscopy. The mean radius of the as-produced NCs (around R ≈ 2.2 nm) was well below the exciton Bohr radius of the bulk ZnTe (5.2 nm). All the characterization techniques employed in this report confirmed the successful inclusion of Mn2+ ions in the ZnTe-based NCs (Zn1−x Mn x Te NCs) up to the nominal solubility limit of x = 0.100. Above this solubility limit (around x = 0.100), one can observe the formation of MnO and α-MnO2 NCs, since the nucleation rate for the formation of these NCs is greater than that of Zn1−x Mn x Te NCs, at high x concentrations.