Preparation of mixed arsenic/antimony chalcogenide glasses and some optical and thermo-physical properties

The preparation of mixed glasses of As₂S_3−xSe_x (x = 0–3) and (1 − y) · As₂S₃y · Sb₂S₃ (y = 0–1) has been carried out by an in situ pouring technique. X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to confirm the glassy nature of the materials and monitor devitrification. Visible-IR transmission, photoluminescence, refractive index and micro-Raman were measured as a function of composition. Microhardness (MH) and thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) were also measured. Raman peaks in As₂S₃ and As₂Se₃ were observed around 338 cm⁻¹ and 230 cm⁻¹, respectively in this first composition series in which S was replaced by Se. When As was replaced by Sb, in the case of second composition series, the As₂S₃ related Raman peak became broader and shifted to lower wave number, reflecting some structural change/devitrification. MH increased (1.31–1.50 GPa) with Se and Sb content while the TEC was found to decrease (2.5–1.4 × 10⁻⁵/K). The progressive increase in the content of either Se or Sb in As₂S₃ is anticipated to modify bond lengths and bond angles. The combined effect of these structural modifications would change the local structure of the glass forming a more rigid glass network thereby increasing the hardness and decreasing TEC.