TeO2-ZnO-La2O3 (TZL) glasses are purified in order to enhance the optical fiber mid-infrared (mid-IR) transmission performances. Halide dehydrating reagents such as ZnF2 and LaF3 are employed and introduced during glass synthesis to capture and remove OH species from the matrix. Thermal, optical, physical and chemical characterizations are performed on bulk samples to determine the impact of the fluoride precursors on glass properties. Single-index optical fibers are then drawn and optical losses are measured in order to characterize their transmission performances with the ZnF2 and LaF3 addition. Finally, large and small core step-index fibers are manufactured with selected compositions, and low loss optical signal wave guiding is observed.
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