Preparation and properties of La2O3–Ga2S3 glass-ceramics for IR materials

IR transmitting glass-ceramics were prepared by isothermal treatments of La2O3–Ga2S3 glasses. The glass-ceramics were characterized by crystalline phases, microstructure, Vickers hardness and mid (3–5 μm) IR transmittance. The Nd2S3-doped La2O3–Ga2S3 glass-ceramics consisting of a large numbers of (LaO)4Ga1.72S4.58, α-(LaO)GaS2 and α-Ga2S3 crystals with <1 μm in size exhibit a high hardness of 5.3 GPa and a mid IR transparency of >60%.