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

无机硫化物玻璃(CHG‘s)在关键光谱区域内具有良好的透明性，电学性质变化很大(可调)，并且易于在芯片上制造工艺，因此在光学和电学领域都具有良好的应用前景。然而，他们的长期稳定往往是不可接受的。我们的研究团队最近的努力表明，这种限制可以通过用氧气部分取代初级硫族元素(S或Se)来克服。初步数据表明，这类氧硫化物(OCHG)玻璃的关键光学性能可能优于末端CHG或氧化物玻璃组合物。在拟议的NSF-EU计划中，三个美国研究团队将与两个法国研究网站合作，共同合成和评估这些新的OChG材料的光学和电学性能。该计划的目标是(I)保持CHG的吸引人的特征，同时融合氧化物的有益属性；(Ii)创造具有更好的机械、热和传输性能以及长期稳定性的玻璃；(Iii)利用与氧取代相关的光学和电学修改方面的关键知识，生产可通过光诱导修改的材料，从而产生新的器件结构。要评估的玻璃成分包括改性GeO2-GeS2成分和掺银：OCHG；这些材料将在光学应用方面与其母体氧化物和CHG材料进行比较；硫氮化物和硫氧氮化物将在锂电池应用方面进行评估。由此产生的OChG将被评估其光敏性和利用光诱导的结构变化进一步增强性质的潜力。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把关键的科学和技术诀窍扩展到合作双方，同时促进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)将支持这一计划，让来自佛罗里达大学光学学院、爱荷华州立大学和利哈伊大学的研究人员与法国波尔多大学和雷恩大学的研究人员合作。

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.