Plasmon-Assisted Precipitation of PbS Quantum Dots in Glasses Containing Ag Nanoparticles

PbS QDs of similar to 5nm diameter were precipitated in glasses containing Ag nanoparticles after 3 min of 1.5-W continuous-wave laser illumination at lambda = 532 nm. Photoluminescence spectra of the PbS QDs recorded in the 1.3 similar to 1.6 mu m wavelength region revealed conversion of photon energy to thermal energy by surface plasmon resonance. Laser-assisted local heating around Ag NPs can provide a new method to control the spatial distribution of QDs in glasses.