An innovative approach to develop highly performant chalcogenide glasses and glass-ceramics transparent in the infrared range.

An innovative way to produce chalcogenide glasses and glass-ceramics for infrared devices is reported. This new method of synthesis at low temperature combining ball-milling and sintering by SPS (Spark Plasma Sintering) is a technological breakthrough to produce efficient infrared chalcogenide glasses and glass-ceramics. This technique will offer the possibility to strongly decrease the cost of infrared devices and to produce new chalcogenide glasses. It will also permit to increase the potential of some glass compositions by allowing their shaping at desired dimensions.