Abstract

This paper discusses the most important thermal characteristics of film-forming materials for interference optics. It shows that the relationship of the basic and acidic properties of a compound is important for optimizing the composition of a material. To evaluate the indicated factors, approaches are proposed that are based on the structure-and-size parameters of the ions and the thermochemical characteristics of the compounds. The general regularities of the basicity–acidity variation accompanying cation and anion replacement are established in a number of compounds, as well as how they affect the stoichiometry of the compound when it is heat-treated under various conditions. Two fundamentally different approaches to the solution of the question of how to stabilize the composition of the material are displayed, based on dopants and the creation of complex compounds with balanced basic and acidic properties. Examples are given of the most successful developments based on the indicated approaches. Some structural–kinetic aspects of film deposition are considered, associated with the acid–base properties of film-forming materials.

© 2012 OSA

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