Modified fluorozirconate glasses doped with 4f- and 3d-cations

Fluoride glasses remain to be an attractive material for thirty years for optical applications lying in the visible and mid IR spectral range due to their low phonon energy (∼500-600 cm−1) and as a unique matrix for introducing rare earth activators. Modern materials science studies in the area of fluoride glasses are aimed at searching for the new modified compositions of these glasses with high optical homogeneity with the purpose of creating efficient active optical media in a wide spectral range. By modifying the composition of the glasses one can control the thermal, optical and spectroscopic properties for various applications. The information on glass-formation in the fluorozirconate system ZBLAN (ZrF4–BaF2–LaF3–AlF3–NaF) modified with “heavier” cations and anions, their physico-chemical and optical properties and areas of applications is presented in this review. Promising directions of practical application of such materials, doped with 4f- and 3d-cations in optoelectronics are discussed. •A short overview about fluoride glasses functional properties is presented.•The influence of fluoride glass composition modification on properties is discussed.•Practical applications of 3d- and 4f-ions doped fluoride glasses are reviewed.