Corrosion protection of fluorzirconate glasses coated by a layer of surface modified tin oxide nanoparticles

The protection efficiency against water corrosion of fluorozirconate glass, ZBLAN, dip-coated by nanocrystalline tin oxide film containing the organic molecule Tiron® was investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The chemical bonding structure of the surface region and morphology were studied before and after two water exposure periods of 5 and 30 min. The results of the analysis for the as-grown sample revealed a SnO1.6 phase containing carbon and sulfur, related to Tiron®, and traces of elements related to ZBLAN (Zr, F, Ba). This fact and the clear evidence of the presence of tin oxifluoride specie (SnOxF y) indicates a diffusion of the glass components into the porous coating. After water exposure, the increase of the oxygen concentration accompanied by a strong increase of Zr, F, Ba and Na content is interpreted as filling of the nanopores of the film by glass compounds. The formation of a compact protective layer is supported by the morphological changes observed by AFM. © 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Compositional influence on spectroscopic properties of Yb3+ doped tellurite glasses

Spectroscopic properties of ytterbium-doped tellurile glasses with different compositions are reported. Results of linear refractive index, absorption and emission spectra, and fluorescence lifetimes are presented. The studied samples present high refractive index (∼2.0) and large transmission window (380-6000nm). Absorption and emission cross-sections are calculated as well as the minimum pump laser intensity. The results are compared with the values of other laser materials, in order to investigate applications as laser media in the infrared region.