Linear and nonlinear optical characteristics of Te nanoparticles-doped germanate glasses

Te nanoparticles (NPs)-doped GeO 2 –MgO–B 2 O 3 –Al 2 O 3 –TeO 2 glasses were prepared by the conventional melt-quenching method. Based on X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscope observation, the coloration of the glass at high TeO 2 concentration is ascribed to the precipitation of elemental Te NPs with a size of 5–10 nm in the germanate glass. Optical absorption spectra and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of the glass samples were analyzed by UV-3600 spectrophotometry and Z-scan technique, respectively. The nonlinear absorption coefficient ( β ) and the imaginary part of the third-order NLO susceptibility (Im χ (3) ) were estimated to be 1.74 cm/GW and 1.142 × 10 −12 esu for laser power of 95 μW, respectively. Due to the excellent NLO properties, the Te NPs-doped germanate glasses may have potential applications for ultrafast optical switch and photonics.