# Cathodoluminescence of CdZnSSe crystals synthesized in 19th century bead glass

## TL;DR

This study investigates the cathodoluminescence properties of 19th-century CdZnSSe crystals embedded in glass, revealing their luminescent behavior, stability, and potential historical and modern technological applications.

## Contribution

It provides the first detailed analysis of cathodoluminescence in historical CdZnSSe crystals within glass, linking ancient glassmaking to luminescent properties and suggesting modern uses.

## Key findings

- CdZnSSe crystals exhibit intense band-edge cathodoluminescence at room and cryogenic temperatures.
- The bandgap peaks between 2.00 and 2.03 eV at 300 K, and 2.02 to 2.06 eV at 80 K.
- The composite glass-crystal material shows high stability and resistance to irradiation and weathering.

## Abstract

The article presents an experimental investigation of band-edge cathodoluminescence of CdZnSSe crystals that nucleated and grew in silicate glass melt during its production. We have studied Zn-rich red glass made for manufacture of seed beads in the 19th century and found it to contain CdZnSSe crystals. Due to colloidal staining using the CdZnSSe crystallites embedded in glass, glass makers were enabled to produce lustrous red glass that, as we presently know, manifests bright luminescence. The CdZnSSe crystallites exhibit intense band-edge cathodoluminescence both at room temperature and at liquid nitrogen temperature. We have found the band-edge cathodoluminescence of these crystals to peak in the range from 2.00 to 2.03 eV at 300 K and from 2.02 to 2.06 eV at 80 K. We have also estimated the value of the band gap derivative d$E_g$/d$T$ in the interval from 80 to 300 K and found it to lie in the range from $-2.5 \times 10^{-4}$ to 0 eV/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.