Formation of laser-induced SbSI single crystal architecture in Sb–S–I glasses

We report the successful fabrication of active single-crystal architectures in IR transparent Sb–S–I chalcogenide glasses using a CW 488 nm laser. Electron back scatter diffraction (EBSD) results reveal that the focal position of the laser spot with respect to glass surface is of paramount importance to the ability to grow long single crystals. Furthermore, by using a laser irradiated line instead of a spot as the seed for these architectures, overall reproducibility was significantly improved.

► Glass samples of composition 82SbSI–18Sb2S3 were prepared.
► SbSI crystalline lines have been grown on the glass surface using CW 488 nm laser.
► EBSD mapping shows that the crystalline features are SbSI single crystals.