Production and properties of high purity TeO2–ZnO–Na2O–Bi2O3 and TeO2–WO3–La2O3–MoO3 glasses

High-purity TeO2–ZnO–Na2O–Bi2O3 and TeO2–WO3–La2O3–MoO3 glasses were produced by melting the high-purity oxides mixtures in platinum or gold crucible at 800 °C in hermetic chamber in the purified oxygen atmosphere. The content of limiting impurities in the produced initial oxides and glasses, the optical properties as well as the stability to crystallization were investigated. The optical fibers were produced from high-purity tellurite glasses with losses at the level of several hundreds of dB/km.The total content of 3d-transition metals in the glasses was not more than 1 ppm wt and content of hydroxyl groups corresponded to the absorption level of 0.001–0.002 cm−1 at ∼3 μm. The absorption band, monotonically increasing with the increase in MoO3 content, was observed in dry TeO2–WO3–La2O3–MoO3 glasses with the maximum at about 3.7 μm.

► High-purity TeO2-ZnO-Na2O-Bi2O3 and TeO2-WO3-La2O3-MoO3 glasses were investigated.
► Total content of 3d-transition metals was not more than 1 ppm wt in the glasses.
► Hydroxyl groups absorption of 0.001-0.002 cm−1 at ∼3 μm was attained.
► Absorption band at about 3.7 μm was found in dry MoO3-containing glasses.
► Optical fibers of glass-polymer type have optical losses of hundreds of dB/km.