Heavy metal oxide glasses: preparation and physical properties

Heavy metal oxide glasses have been investigated in the following systems: TeO2-PbO-PbCl2, TeO2-ZnO, Ga2O3-PbO-Bi2O3 glasses with low OH concentration were prepared. The influence of the processing conditions on the color, th e structure and the optical properties of the prepared samples was also ass essed. Mixtures of starting oxides were melted in various reactive conditio ns using Pt, Au, SiO2 and alumina crucibles. A set of physical measurements including chemical and X-ray analysis, scanning electron microscopy, absor ption spectroscopy, ultraviolet and infrared absorption edges and thermo-ph ysical properties, were carried out. Samples were doped with Nd, Pr and Er rare earth ions. Low temperature photoluminescence spectra show the expecte d rare earth transitions and the broad band emission of the base glass. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.