2.7 μm emission of high thermally and chemically durable glasses based on AlF3

Abstract

AlF3-based glasses (AlF3-YF3-CaF2-BaF2-SrF2-MgF2) with enhanced thermal and chemical stability were synthesized and compared with the well-known fluorozirconate glass (ZBLAN). The 2.7 μm mid-infrared emission in the AlF3-based glasses was also investigated through the absorption and emission spectra. Both the temperature of glass transition and the characteristic temperatures (ΔT, Hr, kgl) of the fluoroaluminate glasses were much larger than those of the ZBLAN glasses. The corrosion phenomenon can be observed by naked-eye, and the transmittance dropped dramatically (0% at 3 μm) when the ZBLAN glass was placed into distilled water. However, the AlF3-based glass was relatively stable. The fluoroaluminate glasses possessed large branching ratio (20%) along with the emission cross section (9.4×10−21 cm−2) of the Er3+:4I11/2→4I13/2 transition. Meanwhile, the enhanced 2.7 μm emission in highly Er3+-doped AYF glass was obtained. Therefore, these results showed that this kind of fluoride glass has a promising application for solid state lasers at 3 μm.

Mid-infrared emission properties and energy transfer evaluation in Tm3+ doped fluorophosphate glasses

“…They are obviously larger than those of ZBLAN glass (67 1C and 0.115) [19]. The results indicate that the prepared FP glass possesses higher thermal stability and better ability of anti-crystallization.…”

“…It can be determined that T g and T x are 463 75 1C and 560 7 5 1C, respectively. The glass forming criterion, ΔT¼T x À T g , is usually regarded as an important parameter to evaluate glass thermal stability [19]. A large ΔT means strong inhibition of nucleation and crystallization.…”

Influence of Tm3+ ions on the amplification of Ho3+:5I7→5I8 transition in fluoride glass modified by Al(PO3)3 for applications in mid-infrared optics

“…In the Fig. 1, the T g and T x are noted as a value of 456°C and 560°C, respectively, and ΔT is calculated as 104°C, which is higher than the value of 81°C of the reported AYF glass [22] . Moreover, the value calculated by the formula k gl ¼ ðT x − T g Þ∕ðT m − T p Þ is developed as a new parameter to judge glass formation [21] , and the higher one reflects the greater thermal stability of the glass, where T m is the melting temperature of the glass.…”

“…Moreover, the value calculated by the formula k gl ¼ ðT x − T g Þ∕ðT m − T p Þ is developed as a new parameter to judge glass formation [21] , and the higher one reflects the greater thermal stability of the glass, where T m is the melting temperature of the glass. The k gl is figured out to be 0.297 in this AlðPO 3 Þ 3 -doped AYF glass system, and larger than the previous value of 0.171 in the AYF system without AlðPO 3 Þ 3 [22] , which reveals a better glass-forming ability and chemical durability.…”

“…The absorption coefficient at 3 μm is 0.067 cm −1 , which is much lower than 0.113 cm −1 of the AYF original glass [22] . The good mid-IR transmission property proves that AYF glass modified by AlðPO 3 Þ 3 is a potential candidate for mid-IR laser materials.…”