Preparation and investigation of GaxGe25As15Se60-x (x = 1 ÷ 5) glasses

Chalcogenide glasses of GaxGe25As15Se60-x (x = 0; 1; 2; 3; 4; 5) compositions are prepared; their transmission range, optical band gap energy, thermal properties and stability against crystallization are studied. It is shown that these glasses have a high transparency in the mid-IR region (from 0.8 to 15 μm), a high glass transition temperature (≥320 °C) and a low tendency to crystallize. The optical band gap energy of GaxGe25As15Se60-x (x = 0; 1; 2; 3; 4; 5) glasses decreases from 1.68 to 1.43 eV as the gallium content increases and the selenium decreases. Their glass network, according to IR spectroscopy data, consists of Ge(Se1/2)4 tetrahedrons and AsSe3/2 pyramids. The Ga2Ge25As15Se58 and Ga3Ge25As15Se57 glasses have highest stability against crystallization. The content of hydrogen and oxygen impurities in the purest glass samples, fabricated using a combination of chemical distillation purification method and vapor transport reaction technique, does not exceed 0.06 ppm (wt) and 0.5 ppm (wt), respectively.