Study of SiO2-PbO-CdO-Ga2O3 glass system for mid infrared optical elements

TL;DR

This study explores a novel SiO2-PbO-CdO-Ga2O3 glass system for mid-infrared optical elements, demonstrating improved thermal and optical properties with specific compositions, and successfully fabricating optical fibers and lenses for gas detection.

Contribution

First investigation of SiO2-PbO-CdO-Ga2O3 glasses for mid-infrared optics, identifying optimal compositions for thermal stability and infrared transmission, and demonstrating practical fabrication of optical components.

Findings

Increased gallium and lead improve infrared transmission.

Identified thermally stable glass composition for optical fibers.

Successfully fabricated mid-infrared lenses for gas detection.

Abstract

Glasses based on SiO2-PbO-CdO-Ga2O3 system have been studied for the first time for fabrication of mid-infrared optical elements. Gallium oxide concentration was gradually increased, replacing silicon dioxide, for different cadmium and lead oxide content. The thermal and optical properties were investigated for different compositions. It was observed that the thermal stability, refractive index, and the transmission in the infrared range increased with increase of gallium and lead concentrations. The most thermally stable glass composition was selected for fabrication of optical elements such as optical fibers. We also successfully fabricated mid-infrared lenses by hot embossing for potential application in compact gas detectors