Effect of X-ray irradiation on CdS1-xSex quantum dots optical absorption

Optical absorption spectra of X-ray irradiated CdS1-xSex quantum dots embed ded in a borosilicate matrix are studied. As the irradiation dose is increa sed up to 3240 Gy, the quantum-size-related maxima are smeared and the abso rption edge is blue shifted. The observed effects are related to the X-ray ionization of the quantum dots with charge-carrier transfer between the nan ocrystals and the host matrix as well as to the additional hydrostatic pres sure upon the quantum dots due to the radiation-induced swelling of the gla ss matrix. The radiation-induced changes vanish completely at post-irradiat ion annealing up to 575 K. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserv ed.