CdZnSSe crystals synthesized in silicate glass: Structure, cathodoluminescence, band gap, discovery in historical glass, and possible applications in contemporary technology

The article presents investigations of CdZnSSe crystals synthesized in silicate glass melt. Zn-rich glass manufactured in the 19th century has been found to contain CdZnSSe crystals of hexagonal crystal system exhibiting intense band-edge cathodoluminescence. The exciton luminescence peak of these crystals ranges 2.00–2.03 eV at 300 K and 2.02–2.06 eV at 80 K. Its shifts in individual crystals are attributed to minor variations of their composition. The value of the band gap derivative dEg/dT lies in the range from −2.5 × 10−4 to 0 eV/K in the interval from 80 to 300 K. CdZnSSe crystals in glass demonstrate high temperature and temporal stability. The glass-crystal composite on their basis is resistant to the electron-beam irradiation and long-term weathering. Possible applications of this composite in modern technologies, and processes and components that might be used for making glass stained with CdZnSSe in the past are also discussed.