Thermally stable mid-infrared fluorotellurite glass with low OH content

Abstract

We focus on the research of glasses for mid-infrared optical fiber and investigate the effects of different fluorides on the dehydration as well as structure, and heavy metal oxide modifiers Nb2O5, WO3 and MoO3 on the thermal stability as well as structure of tellurite glass of the main composition of TeO2–ZnO–Na2O–La2O3. Raman spectra indicate that Nb2O5, WO3 and MoO3 will mitigate the destructive effect of fluoride on TeO4 entities. The fluorotellurite glass stability is directly related to the structure of TeO4 groups. The hydroxyl absorption coefficient is 0.07cm−1 when 10% (mol) fluoride is introduced. We succeed to improve the thermal stability of fluorotellurite glasses by some composition modifications. Consequently, this glass is promising for optical fiber.