Thermal and Optical Properties of High Refractive Index xNb<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub>-(1-x)La<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> Glasses Prepared by Aerodynamic Levitation Method

Abstract

Bulk glasses of xNb2O5(1-x)La2O3(NL) with high refractive index were prepared by aerodynamic levitation method. Only when x ranges from 0.62 to 0.72, NL glasses can be obtained. The effect of compositions on the thermal property and refractive index was investigated. The results indicated that the glass transition temperature ranged from 733 to 767 with the increasing of La2O3in NL glasses, while the crystallization peak ranged from 811 to 837 . The glasses had high refractive index ranging from 2.26 to 2.31. According to the Drude-Voigt relationship, the Abbe number of the glasses was calculated to be about 20. This type of glass was colorless and transparent in the region from visible to infrared region. Thus, the niobate glass system has promising application in lenses, next-generation optical disk, and endoscopes.