*2.1.4 Synthesis of Cr-doped Bi2Te3 nanocrystals embedded in glass matrix*

Bi2-xCrxTe3 NCs were synthesized by the fusion method in a borosilicate glass matrix with the following nominal composition: SNAB–45SiO2·30Na2CO3· 5Al2O3·20B2O3 (mol %), 2% (of the weight of the glass matrix) of Te and Bi2O3, with nominal Cr content of x (x = 0.00, 0.01, and 0.05) as a function of bismuth concentration. The powdered glass and NC precursors were mixed together and melted in an alumina crucible at 1200 °C for 30 min and then rapidly cooled to room temperature, permitting the formation of Cr-doped Bi2Te3 NCs.
