Determination of Matrix Elements and Praseodymium in Ga–Ge–As–Se Glasses by Inductively Coupled Plasma–Atomic Emission Spectrometry

Abstract

We developed a procedure for the high-precision determination of matrix elements of glasses of the Ga–Ge–As–Se system, including those doped with praseodymium, in the range of concentrations of gallium from 1 to 5 at %, germanium from 16 to 24 at %, arsenic from 14 to 18 at %, and selenium from 57 to 65 at %. A procedure for determining 0.05–0.5 wt % of praseodymium in these glasses by inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectrometry is also proposed. The expanded uncertainty (P = 0.95) of the results in determining the matrix elements ranged from 0.05 to 0.1 at %, and for praseodymium, it was from 0.002 from 0.02 wt %. A method for preparing standard solutions necessary to achieve the stated level of uncertainty of the analysis results is described. The minimum sample weight for determining matrix elements is approximately 1 mg, and for the determination of praseodymium, it is approximately 10 mg, which enables analyzing not only bulk glass samples but also fibers made of them.