NSF-Europe: Evaluation of the Optical and Electrical Properties of Oxychalcogenide Glass Materials

无机硫系玻璃（ChG’s）是光学和电学应用的有前途的候选者，因为它们在关键光谱范围内具有出色的透明度，广泛变化（可调谐）的电学性能，并且适用于片上制造工艺。然而，它们的长期稳定性往往是不可接受的。我们的研究小组最近的努力表明，这种限制可以通过用氧气部分替代原硫（S或Se）来克服。初步数据表明，这种氧-硫族化物（OChG）玻璃的关键光学性能可能优于终端ChG或氧化物玻璃组合物。在拟议的NSF-EU项目中，三个美国研究小组与两个法国研究机构合作，将共同合成和评估这些新型OChG材料的光学和电学特性。该计划旨在(i)保持ChG的吸引人的特点，但混合氧化物中发现的有益属性；（ii）制造出具有更好的机械、热、输运性能和长期稳定性的玻璃；（iii）利用与氧取代相关的光学和电学修饰的关键知识，生产出适合光诱导修饰的材料，从而产生新的器件结构。待评价的玻璃组分包括改性的GeO2-GeS2组分和Ag掺杂的OChG；这些材料将与它们的母体氧化物和ChG材料进行比较，用于光学应用；硫代氮化物和硫代氧氮化物将在锂电池中的应用进行评估。由此产生的OChG将被评估其光敏性和利用光诱导结构变化进一步增强性能的潜力。然后将成功的候选散装材料转移到薄膜和纤维形式中使用。研究人员集合了玻璃科学、化学和光学科学的专业知识，带来了良好的教育推广和指导记录，预计国际学生和教师团队将为合作双方提供关键的科学和技术知识，同时进一步推动我们已建立的国际合作的成功。材料研究部（陶瓷）和国际办公室（西欧）将支持该项目，包括来自中佛罗里达大学光学学院、爱荷华州立大学和里海大学的研究人员，以及法国波尔多大学和雷恩大学的研究人员。

Inorganic chalcogenide glasses (ChG's) are promising candidates for both optical and electrical applications as they possess excellent transparency in key spectral regimes, widely varying (tunable) electrical properties and are amenable to on-chip manufacturing processes. However, their long-term stability is often unacceptable. Recent efforts by our research team have suggested that such limitations can be overcome by the partial replacement of the primary chalcogen (S or Se), with oxygen. Preliminary data suggest that key optical properties of such oxy-chalcogenide (OChG) glasses can be superior to terminal ChG or oxide glass compositions. In the proposed NSF-EU program, three U.S. research teams in partnership with two French research sites will collaborate to synthesize and evaluate the optical and electrical properties of these new OChG materials. The program aims to (i) maintain the attractive features of ChG's but blend the beneficial attributes found in oxides; (ii) create glasses with improved mechanical, thermal and transport properties and long-term stability; (iii) utilized key learnings in optical and electrical modifications associated with oxygen substitution to produce materials amenable to photo-induced modification resulting in novel device structures. Glass compositions to be evaluated include modified GeO2-GeS2 compositions and Ag doped:OChG; these materials will be compared to their parent oxide and ChG materials, for optical applications; thio-nitride and thio-oxynitrides will be evaluated for Li:battery applications. Resulting OChG will be assessed for their photosensitivity and the potential for further enhancement of properties using light-induced structural changes. Successful candidate bulk materials will then be transferred to use in film and fiber form.The assemblage of glass science, chemistry and optical science expertise among the researchers, brings a proven track record of educational outreach and mentoring, and it is expected that the international team of students and faculty will extend key scientific and technological know-how to both sides of the partnership, while furthering the success of our established international collaboration. The Division of Materials Research (Ceramics) and the International Office (Western Europe) will support this program involving researchers from the University of Central Florida School of Optics, Iowa State University and Lehigh University working with researchers at the Univeristies of Bordeaux and Rennes in France.