Synthesis, structural, thermal and optical properties of TeO2–Bi2O3–GeO2–Li2O glasses

Abstract

In this study, synthesis and characterization of novel quaternary tellurite glass system TeO2–Bi2O3–GeO2–Li2O is presented. The compositions include TeO2 and GeO2 as glass formers while different proportion of Bi2O3 and Li2O act as network modifiers. Differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, UV–Vis and Raman spectroscopy are applied to study the structural, thermal and optical properties of the studied glasses. Obtained glasses possess a relatively low glass transition temperature (around 300 °C) if compared to other tellurite glasses, show good thermal transparency in the visible and near infra-red (from 2.4 to 0.4 μm) and can double the frequency of laser light from its original wavelength of 1064 nm to its second-harmonic at 532 nm (i.e. second harmonic generation).