Near and mid-infrared luminescence of new chalcohalide glasses doped with Pr3+ ions

Chalcohalide glasses of the system 100 − y((GeS2)80(Sb2S3)20−x(PbHal2)x)·yPr2S3, where Hal is I or Cl, x = 2 or 5, y = 0.01 or 0.1, were prepared by direct synthesis from high purity Ge, Sb, S, Pr and PbCl2 or PbI2. The prepared glasses were stable and homogeneous. Absorption spectra were measured in the interval from 500 nm to 2.5 μm. Room temperature luminescence was observed in the near and middle infrared regions with maxima at ∼1.3, ∼1.6, ∼2.2, ∼2.4, ∼4 and ∼5 μm. The luminescence bands were ascribed to f–f electron transitions in Pr3+ ions.