The influence of Er doping on the physical properties of Ge-Sb-Ga-Se-Te glasses

Chalcogenide glasses, composed of one or more chalcogen elements (sulfur, selenium, and tellurium), exhibit unique optical and electrical properties due to their semiconductor properties and high refractive indices. Their ability to transmit infrared light makes them ideal for infrared optics, including lenses and optical fibers, which are essential in thermal imaging, night vision, and infrared spectroscopy. Rare earth metals, like Er , are usually added into chalcogenide glass composition to enhance their intrinsic optical properties towards energy conversion and telecommunication applications. In this work, it is shown that addition of Er significantly decreases a glass-forming ability of Sb-containing (Ge₂₀Ga₅Se₄₅Te₂₀) glass matrix, introduces a significant scattering into optical transmission signal, and decreases thermal stability of the glass. Prepared materials were characterized with DSC, XRD and optical spectroscopy methods.