Broadband transparent AlF3–ZnF2-based composite glass controllably synthesized for photonic application

This paper reports a novel AlF 3 –ZnF 2 -based composite glass (AZCG) containing an AlF 3 single-crystal phase. The AZCGs were prepared by phase-separation engineering technology. The prepared AZCGs exhibit excellent comprehensive properties, including high transmittance from 0.2 µm to 7.4 µm, low phonon energy (601 cm −1 ), high hardness (394 Hv), excellent chemical stability, high service temperature (280 °C), and low emissivity. In addition, an Er-doped AZCG shows comparable luminescence properties to a ZrF 4 -based glass. The samples exhibit large emission cross-sections (1.7 × 10 −20 cm 2 ) and long lifetimes (6.5 ms @ 2.7 µm). Consequently, the AZCG material has potential applications in various fields such as infrared windows, infrared imaging, and host materials.