Optical properties and crystallization behavior of 45GeS2•30Ga2S3•25Sb2S3 chalcogenide glass

Glass-ceramics containing Ga2S3 nano-crystals were reproducibly fabricated from the 45GeS(2)center dot 30Ga(2)S(3)center dot 25Sb(2)S(3) chalcogenide glass by heat treatment at 335 degrees C (T-g + 30 degrees C) for different durations. The obtained glass-ceramics are still transparent in the IR region and show improved thermal stability. Crystallization mechanism was investigated using the non-isothermal method. The results show that the crystallization rate constant K at 335 degrees C for the Ga2S3 phase is about 2 orders of magnitude larger than that of the second crystallization peak in the DSC curve. So it is easy to control the crystallization process with only Ga2S3 crystallites precipitated. With the above advantages, it has a great potential for drawing infrared transmitting glass-ceramic fibers with improved mechanical properties and enhanced luminescence for application in optical amplifiers. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.