La conversion thermoélectrique a suscité un regain d'intérêt en raison des possibilités d'augmenter l'efficacité tout en exploitant les effets de taille. Par exemple, les nanofils montrent théoriquement une augmentation des facteurs de puissance ainsi qu'une réduction du transport des phonons en raison d'effets de confinement et/ou de taille. Dans ce contexte, le diamètre des nanofils devient un paramètre crucial à prendre en compte pour obtenir des rendements thermoélectriques élevés. Une approche habituelle consiste à réduire la conductivité thermique phononique dans les nanofils en améliorant la diffusion sur les surfaces tout en réduisant les diamètres.Dans ce travail, la caractérisation thermique d'une forêt dense de nanofils de silicium, germanium, silicium-germanium et alliage Bi2Te3 est réalisée par une méthode 3-omega très sensible. Ces forêts de nanofils pour le silicium, le germanium et les alliages silicium-germanium ont été fabriqués selon une technique "bottom-up" suivant le mécanisme Vapeur-Liquide-Solide en dépôt chimique en phase vapeur. La croissance assistée par matrice et la croissance par catalyseurs en or des nanofils à diamètres contrôlés ont été réalisés à l'aide d'alumine nanoporeuse comme matrice. Les nanofils sont fabriqués selon la géométrie interne des nanopores, dans ce cas le profil de surface des nanofils peut être modifié en fonction de la géométrie des nanopores. Profitant de ce fait, la croissance à haute densité de nanofils modulés en diamètre a également été démontrée, où l'amplitude et la période de modulation peuvent être facilement contrôlées pendant la fabrication des matrices. Même en modulant les diamètres pendant la croissance, les nanofils ont été structurellement caractérisés comme étant monocristallins par microscopie électronique à transmission et analyse par diffraction des rayons X.La caractérisation thermique de ces nanofils a révélé une forte diminution de la conductivité thermique en fonction du diamètre, dont la réduction était principalement liée à une forte diffusion par les surfaces. La contribution du libre parcours moyen à la conductivité thermique observée dans ces matériaux "bulk" varie beaucoup, Bi2Te3 ayant une distribution en libre parcours moyen (0,1 nm à 15 nm) très faible par rapport aux autres matériaux. Même alors, des conductivités thermiques réduites (~40%) ont été observées dans ces alliages attribuées à la diffusion par les surfaces et par les impuretés. D'autre part, le silicium et le germanium ont une conductivité thermique plus élevée avec une plus grande distribution de libre parcours moyen. Dans ces nanofils, une réduction significative (facteur 10 à 15 ) a été observée avec une forte dépendance avec la taille des nanofils.Alors que les effets de taille réduisent la conductivité thermique par une meilleure diffusion sur les surfaces, le dopage de ces nanofils peut ajouter un mécanisme de diffusion par différence de masse à des échelles de longueur atomique. La dépendance en température de la conductivité thermique a été déterminée pour les nanofils dopés de silicium afin d'observer une réduction de la conductivité thermique à une valeur de 4,6 W.m-1K-1 dans des nanofils de silicium fortement dopés avec un diamètre de 38 nm. En tenant compte de la conductivité électrique et du coefficient Seebeck calculé, on a observé un ZT de 0,5. Avec l'augmentation significative de l'efficacité du silicium en tant que matériau thermoélectrique, une application pratique réelle sur les appareils n'est pas loin de la réalité. / Thermoelectric conversion has gained renewed interest based on the possibilities of increasing the efficiencies while exploiting the size effects. For instance, nanowires theoretically show increased power factors along with reduced phonon transport owing to confinement and/or size effects. In this context, the diameter of the nanowires becomes a crucial parameter to address in order to obtain high thermoelectric efficiencies. A usual approach is directed towards reducing the phononic thermal conductivity in nanowires by achieving enhanced boundary scattering while reducing diameters.In this work, thermal characterisation of a dense forest of silicon, germanium, silicon-germanium and Bi2Te3 alloy nanowires is done through a sensitive 3ω method. These forest of nanowires for silicon, germanium and silicon-germanium alloy were grown through bottom-up technique following the Vapour-Liquid-Solid mechanism in Chemical vapour deposition. The template-assisted and gold catalyst growth of nanowires with controlled diameters was achieved with the aid of tuneable nanoporous alumina as templates. The nanowires are grown following the internal geometry of the nanopores, in such a case the surface profile of the nanowires can be modified according to the fabricated geometry of nanopores. Benefiting from this fact, high-density growth of diameter-modulated nanowires was also demonstrated, where the amplitude and the period of modulation can be easily tuned during the fabrication of the templates. Even while modulating the diameters during growth, the nanowires were structurally characterised to be monocrystalline through transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis.The thermal characterisation of these nanowires revealed a strong diameter dependent decrease in the thermal conductivity, where the reduction was predominantly linked to strong boundary scattering. The mean free path contribution to the thermal conductivity observed in the bulk of fabricated nanowire materials vary a lot, where Bi2Te3 has strikingly low mean free path distribution (0.1 nm to 15 nm) as compared to the other materials. Even then, reduced thermal conductivities (~40%) were observed in these alloys attributed to boundary and impurity scattering. On the other hand, silicon and germanium have higher thermal conductivity with a larger mean free path distribution. In these nanowires, a significant reduction (10-15 times) was observed with a strong dependence on the size of the nanowires.While size effects reduce the thermal conductivity by enhanced boundary scattering, doping these nanowires can incorporate mass-difference scattering at atomic length scales. The temperature dependence of thermal conductivity was determined for doped nanowires of silicon to observe a reduction in thermal conductivity to a value of 4.6 W.m-1K-1 in highly n-doped silicon nanowires with 38 nm diameter. Taking into account the electrical conductivity and calculated Seebeck coefficient, a ZT of 0.5 was observed. With these significant increase in the efficiency of silicon as a thermoelectric material, a real practical application to devices is not far from reality.

<p dir="ltr">Transitioning to a carbon-neutral future will require a broad portfolio of green energy generation and storage solutions. With the abundant availability of solar radiation across the Earth’s surface, energy generation from photovoltaics (PVs) will be an important part of this green energy portfolio. While silicon-based solar cells currently dominate the PV market, temperatures exceeding 1000 °C are needed for purification of silicon, and batch processing of silicon wafers limits how rapidly Si-based PV can be deployed. Furthermore, silicon’s indirect band gap necessitates absorber layers to exceed 100 µm thick, limiting its applications to rigid substrates.</p><p dir="ltr">Solution processed thin-film solar cells may allow for the realization of continuous, high-throughput manufacturing of PV modules. Thin-film absorber materials have direct band gaps, allowing them to absorb light more efficiently, and thus, they can be as thin as a few hundred nanometers and can be deposited on flexible substrates. Solution deposition of these absorber materials utilizing molecular precursor-based inks could be done in a roll-to-roll format, drastically increasing the throughput of PV manufacturing, and reducing installation costs. In this dissertation, solution processed synthesis and the characterization of two emerging direct band gap absorber materials consisting of earth abundant elements is discussed: the enargite phase of Cu₃AsS₄ and the distorted perovskite phase of BaZrS₃.</p><p dir="ltr">The enargite phase of Cu₃AsS₄ (ENG) is an emerging PV material with a 1.42 eV band gap, making it an ideal single-junction absorber material for photovoltaic applications. Unfortunately, ENG-based PV devices have historically been shown to have low power conversion efficiencies, potentially due to defects in the material. A combined computational and experimental study was completed where DFT-based calculations from collaborators were used inform synthesis strategies to improve the defect properties of ENG utilizing new synthesis techniques, including silver alloying, to reduce the density of harmful defects.</p><p dir="ltr">Chalcogenide perovskites are viewed as a stable alternative to halide perovskites, with BaZrS₃ being the most widely studied. With a band gap of 1.8 eV, BaZrS₃ could be an excellent wide-bandgap partner for a silicon-based tandem solar cell.Historically, sputtering, and solid-state approaches have been used to synthesize chalcogenide perovskites, but these methods require synthesis temperatures exceeding 800 °C, making them incompatible with the glass substrates and rear-contact layers required to create a PV device. In this dissertation, these high synthesis temperatures are bypassed through the development of a solution-processed deposition technique.A unique chemistry was developed to create fully soluble molecular precursor inks consisting of alkaline earth metal dithiocarboxylates and transition metal dithiocarbamates for direct-to-substrate synthesis of BaZrS₃ and BaHfS₃ at temperatures below 600 °C.</p><p dir="ltr">However, many challenges must be overcome before chalcogenide perovskites can be used for the creation of photovoltaic devices including oxide and Ruddlesden-Popper secondary phases, isolated grain growth, and deep level defects. Nevertheless, the development of a moderate temperature solution-based synthesis route makes chalcogenide perovskite research accessible to labs which do not have high temperature furnaces or sputtering equipment, further increasing research interest in this quickly developing absorber material.</p>

<p>Thin-film solar cells based around the absorber material CuIn_1-xGa_xSe₂ (CIGS) are studied with respect to their stability characteristics, and different ways of modelling device operation are investigated. Two ways of modelling spatial inhomogeneities are detailed, one fully numerical and one hybrid model. In the numerical model, thin-film solar cells with randomized parameter variations are simulated showing how the voltage decreases with increasing material inhomogeneities.</p><p>With the hybrid model, an analytical model for the p-n junction action is used as a boundary condition to a numerical model of the steady state electrical conduction in the front contact layers. This also allows for input of inhomogeneous material parameters, but on a macroscopic scale. The simpler approach, compared to the numerical model, enables simulations of complete cells. Effects of material inhomogeneities, shunt defects and grid geometry are simulated.</p><p>The stability of CIGS solar cells with varying absorber thickness, varying buffer layer material and CIGS from two different deposition systems are subjected to damp heat treatment. During this accelerated ageing test the cells are monitored using characterization methods including J-V, QE, C-V and J(V)_T. The degradation studies show that the typical V_OC decrease experienced by CIGS cells subjected to damp heat is most likely an effect in the bulk of the absorber material.</p><p>When cells encapsulated with EVA are subjected to the same damp heat treatment, the effect on the voltage is considerably reduced. In this situation the EVA is saturated with moisture, representing a worst case scenario for a module in operation. Consequently, real-life modules will not suffer extensively from the V_OC degradation effect, common in unprotected CIGS devices.</p>

Neste trabalho, a técnica de Lente Térmica (LT) foi usada para determinar o valor absoluto da difusividade térmica (D), da condutividade térmica (K) e do coeficiente de temperatura do caminho óptico (ds/tD) de vidros fluoretos dopados com cobalto e neodímio, calcogenetos, calcohaletos (mistura de calcogenetos com haletos), aluminate de cálcio e de um cristal fluoreto. Estas medidas foram efetuadas na temperatura ambiente e próxima de Tg para algumas amostras. Para o vidro ZBLAN, realizamos experimentos de LT da temperatura ambiente até ~ 330°C, observando um grande decréscimo de D na região de transição do vidro (Tg ~ 290°C). Nós também aplicamos a técnica de LT para determinar a eficiência quântica fluorescente do ZBLAN dopado com Nd+3. A utilidade desta técnica para determinar as propriedades termo-ópticas dos materiais transparentes em função da temperatura foi demonstrado. / In this work the Thermal Lens (TL) technique was used to determine the absolute values of the thermal diffusivity (D), thermal conductivity (K) and temperature coefficient of the optical path length (ds/dT) of fluoride, chalcogenide, chalcohalide (chalcogenides and halides mixture) and calcium aluminate glass and of a fluoride cristal. These measurements were developed at ambient temperature and near Tg for some samples. For the ZBLAN glass, we performed the TL experiment from ambient to ~ 330°C, observing na abrupt decrease on D close to the glass transition temperature (Tg ~ 290°C). We also applied the TL technique to determine the fluorescence quantum efficiency of Nd+3 doped ZBLAN. The usefulness of this technique to determine thermo-optical properties of transparent materials as a function of the temperature was demonstrated.

Este trabalho vem a dar uma importante contribuição à pesquisa de novos materiais que possam ser utilizados como meios ativos para lasers de estado sólido na região do infravermelho próximo, bombeados por lasers de diodo, e também na região do visível, bombeados pelo processo de Upconversion. As emissões dos íons Nd3+ e Tm3+ foram estudadas em três sistemas (cristalino, vítreo e policristalino). No primeiro sistema inclui-se fibras monocristalinas com diâmetro de 500 &#181;m e até 3 cm de comprimento dos vanadatos YVO4, Y0,8La0,2VO4 e Gd0,8La0,2VO4, dopadas com Nd3+, e de Gd0,8La0,2VO4 dopadas com Tm3+, que foram crescidas pela versátil técnica LHPG, de baixo custo, e caracterizadas dos pontos de vista estrutural e espectroscópico como candidatas para o desenvolvimento de lasers compactos na região do IV e do VIS. Foi observada emissão laser em 1,064&#181;, foi observada em uma fibra de YVO4:Nd3+ adaptada a uma cavidade end-pump, com eficiência comparável a de um cristal comercial crescido pelo método de Czochralski. Para os vidros calcogenetos GaLaS dopados com Nd3+ e Tm3+, além das caracterizações espectroscópicas, realizou-se o estudo da transferência de energia entre íons, das interações íon-matriz e da geração de calor nas amostras, para investigar a influência destes mecânicas na eficiência quântica de emissão dos íons. Para o GaLaS:Tm3+, verificou-se ganho óptico positivo em 1,8 &#181;m (emissão de interesse em medicina e odontologia), e medidas de absorção de estado excitado indicam que a transição em 1,4 &#181;m pode ser utilizada em amplificadores de banda larga, desde que seja bombeada apropriadamente. As amostras da cerâmica ferroelétrica PLZT(9/65/35) transparentes e dopadas com ambos os íons foram caracterizadas de maneira similar aos outros sistemas e cálculo das propriedades radiativas aliadas as medidas do espectro de ganho no PLZT:Nd3+ indicam a potencialidade dessas matrizes como meio ativo para lasers. / In this work we have made an important contribution to the growing research of new laser materials that can be pumped by low cost diode lasers or by the Upconversion process to operate in the near-infrared and visible spectral regions. Three kinds of hosts, doped with the rare earth ions (Nd3+ and Tm3+) were studied, and they present potential characteristics as laser active media. Single crystal fibers of yttrium and gadolinium orthovanadates grown by LHPG are very attractive for the construction of compact lasers due to the versatility and low cost of the growing process. A neodymium-doped YVO4 fiber adapted to an end-pump laser cavity presented efficient emission at 1.064 &#181;m, similar to that obtained for a Czochralski grown bulk crystal. A study of ion-ion and host-ion interactions was done for GaLaS glass to investigate the influence of these processes on fluorescence quantum efficiencies. For GaLaS:Tm3+, positive gain was estimated at 1,8 &#181;m and it was also observed that the 1,47 &#181;m emission is efficient under appropriate pumping. Finally, transparent PLZT ferroelectric ceramic samples were characterized and the results also point out that PLZT:Nd3+ might become a potential laser host.

Cette thèse est une contribution au domaine de recherche de la plasmonique nonlinéaire, domaine émergent de l'optique. L'objectif principal est de démontrer expérimentalement l'autofocalisation d'une onde plasmonique.L'étude débute avec la fabrication et la caractérisation de guides plans en verre de chalcogénure de composition Ge-Sb-Se. Une technique basée sur la formation de solitons spatiaux est développée afin d’estimer leurs non-linéarités Kerr. Les propriétés optiques linéaires et non linéaires de ces guides sont étudiées aux longueurs d’onde de 1200 nm et 1550 nm.Des structures plasmoniques sont ensuite conçues pour propager des ondes hybrides plasmon-solitons avec des pertes de propagation modérées. Elles sont constituées des guides précédents recouverts de nanocouches de silice et d'or.Les caractérisations optiques par couplage plasmon-soliton révèlent une forte autofocalisation subie par l’onde qui se propage à l'intérieur de la structure plasmonique. Comme prévu par la théorie, le comportement est présent uniquement pour une lumière polarisée TM. Des résultats expérimentaux détaillés de cette autofocalisation exaltée par effet plasmonique sont présentés pour différentes configurations. Des simulations confirment les résultats expérimentaux obtenus.Cette démonstration fondamentale vient confirmer le concept d’autofocalisation assistée par plasmon tout en révélant un effet nonlinéaire très efficace. Cela ouvre de nouvelles perspectives pour le développement de dispositifs photoniques non linéaires intégrés ainsi que de nouveaux phénomènes physiques. / This dissertation contributes to the research area of nonlinear plasmonics an emerging field of optics. The main goal is to demonstrate experimentally the spatial self-trapping of a plasmonic wave.The study begins with the fabrication and the characterization of slab Ge-Sb-Se chalcogenide waveguides. A technique based on the formation of spatial solitons is developed to estimate their Kerr nonlinearities. Linear and nonlinear optical properties of the waveguides are studied at the wavelengths of 1200 nm and 1550 nm.Plasmonic structures are then designed to propagate hybrid plasmon-soliton waves with moderate propagation losses. They are constituted of the previous waveguides covered with nanolayers of silica and gold.Optical characterizations reveal a giant self-focusing undergone by the wave that propagates inside the plasmonic structure. The behavior is present only for TM polarized light as expected from theory. Detailed experimental results of this plasmon enhanced nonlinear self-trapping corresponding to different configurations are presented. Simulations confirm the obtained experimental results.This fundamental demonstration confirms the concept of plasmon-assisted self-focusing while revealing a very efficient nonlinear effect. This opens new perspectives for the development of integrated nonlinear photonic devices as well as new physical phenomena.

Thin-film solar cells based around the absorber material CuIn1-xGaxSe2 (CIGS) are studied with respect to their stability characteristics, and different ways of modelling device operation are investigated. Two ways of modelling spatial inhomogeneities are detailed, one fully numerical and one hybrid model. In the numerical model, thin-film solar cells with randomized parameter variations are simulated showing how the voltage decreases with increasing material inhomogeneities. With the hybrid model, an analytical model for the p-n junction action is used as a boundary condition to a numerical model of the steady state electrical conduction in the front contact layers. This also allows for input of inhomogeneous material parameters, but on a macroscopic scale. The simpler approach, compared to the numerical model, enables simulations of complete cells. Effects of material inhomogeneities, shunt defects and grid geometry are simulated. The stability of CIGS solar cells with varying absorber thickness, varying buffer layer material and CIGS from two different deposition systems are subjected to damp heat treatment. During this accelerated ageing test the cells are monitored using characterization methods including J-V, QE, C-V and J(V)T. The degradation studies show that the typical VOC decrease experienced by CIGS cells subjected to damp heat is most likely an effect in the bulk of the absorber material. When cells encapsulated with EVA are subjected to the same damp heat treatment, the effect on the voltage is considerably reduced. In this situation the EVA is saturated with moisture, representing a worst case scenario for a module in operation. Consequently, real-life modules will not suffer extensively from the VOC degradation effect, common in unprotected CIGS devices.

abstract: Counterfeiting of goods is a widespread epidemic that is affecting the world economy. The conventional labeling techniques are proving inadequate to thwart determined counterfeiters equipped with sophisticated technologies. There is a growing need of a secure labeling that is easy to manufacture and analyze but extremely difficult to copy. Programmable metallization cell technology operates on a principle of controllable reduction of a metal ions to an electrodeposit in a solid electrolyte by application of bias. The nature of metallic electrodeposit is unique for each instance of growth, moreover it has a treelike, bifurcating fractal structure with high information capacity. These qualities of the electrodeposit can be exploited to use it as a physical unclonable function. The secure labels made from the electrodeposits grown in radial structure can provide enhanced authentication and protection from counterfeiting and tampering. So far only microscale radial structures and electrodeposits have been fabricated which limits their use to labeling only high value items due to high cost associated with their fabrication and analysis. Therefore, there is a need for a simple recipe for fabrication of macroscale structure that does not need sophisticated lithography tools and cleanroom environment. Moreover, the growth kinetics and material characteristics of such macroscale electrodeposits need to be investigated. In this thesis, a recipe for fabrication of centimeter scale radial structure for growing Ag electrodeposits using simple fabrication techniques was proposed. Fractal analysis of an electrodeposit suggested information capacity of 1.27 x 1019. The kinetics of growth were investigated by electrical characterization of the full cell and only solid electrolyte at different temperatures. It was found that mass transport of ions is the rate limiting process in the growth. Materials and optical characterization techniques revealed that the subtle relief like structure and consequently distinct optical response of the electrodeposit provides an added layer of security. Thus, the enormous information capacity, ease of fabrication and simplicity of analysis make macroscale fractal electrodeposits grown in radial programmable metallization cells excellent candidates for application as physical unclonable functions. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Materials Science and Engineering 2017

Este trabalho vem a dar uma importante contribuição à pesquisa de novos materiais que possam ser utilizados como meios ativos para lasers de estado sólido na região do infravermelho próximo, bombeados por lasers de diodo, e também na região do visível, bombeados pelo processo de Upconversion. As emissões dos íons Nd3+ e Tm3+ foram estudadas em três sistemas (cristalino, vítreo e policristalino). No primeiro sistema inclui-se fibras monocristalinas com diâmetro de 500 &#181;m e até 3 cm de comprimento dos vanadatos YVO4, Y0,8La0,2VO4 e Gd0,8La0,2VO4, dopadas com Nd3+, e de Gd0,8La0,2VO4 dopadas com Tm3+, que foram crescidas pela versátil técnica LHPG, de baixo custo, e caracterizadas dos pontos de vista estrutural e espectroscópico como candidatas para o desenvolvimento de lasers compactos na região do IV e do VIS. Foi observada emissão laser em 1,064&#181;, foi observada em uma fibra de YVO4:Nd3+ adaptada a uma cavidade end-pump, com eficiência comparável a de um cristal comercial crescido pelo método de Czochralski. Para os vidros calcogenetos GaLaS dopados com Nd3+ e Tm3+, além das caracterizações espectroscópicas, realizou-se o estudo da transferência de energia entre íons, das interações íon-matriz e da geração de calor nas amostras, para investigar a influência destes mecânicas na eficiência quântica de emissão dos íons. Para o GaLaS:Tm3+, verificou-se ganho óptico positivo em 1,8 &#181;m (emissão de interesse em medicina e odontologia), e medidas de absorção de estado excitado indicam que a transição em 1,4 &#181;m pode ser utilizada em amplificadores de banda larga, desde que seja bombeada apropriadamente. As amostras da cerâmica ferroelétrica PLZT(9/65/35) transparentes e dopadas com ambos os íons foram caracterizadas de maneira similar aos outros sistemas e cálculo das propriedades radiativas aliadas as medidas do espectro de ganho no PLZT:Nd3+ indicam a potencialidade dessas matrizes como meio ativo para lasers. / In this work we have made an important contribution to the growing research of new laser materials that can be pumped by low cost diode lasers or by the Upconversion process to operate in the near-infrared and visible spectral regions. Three kinds of hosts, doped with the rare earth ions (Nd3+ and Tm3+) were studied, and they present potential characteristics as laser active media. Single crystal fibers of yttrium and gadolinium orthovanadates grown by LHPG are very attractive for the construction of compact lasers due to the versatility and low cost of the growing process. A neodymium-doped YVO4 fiber adapted to an end-pump laser cavity presented efficient emission at 1.064 &#181;m, similar to that obtained for a Czochralski grown bulk crystal. A study of ion-ion and host-ion interactions was done for GaLaS glass to investigate the influence of these processes on fluorescence quantum efficiencies. For GaLaS:Tm3+, positive gain was estimated at 1,8 &#181;m and it was also observed that the 1,47 &#181;m emission is efficient under appropriate pumping. Finally, transparent PLZT ferroelectric ceramic samples were characterized and the results also point out that PLZT:Nd3+ might become a potential laser host.

Neste trabalho, a técnica de Lente Térmica (LT) foi usada para determinar o valor absoluto da difusividade térmica (D), da condutividade térmica (K) e do coeficiente de temperatura do caminho óptico (ds/tD) de vidros fluoretos dopados com cobalto e neodímio, calcogenetos, calcohaletos (mistura de calcogenetos com haletos), aluminate de cálcio e de um cristal fluoreto. Estas medidas foram efetuadas na temperatura ambiente e próxima de Tg para algumas amostras. Para o vidro ZBLAN, realizamos experimentos de LT da temperatura ambiente até ~ 330°C, observando um grande decréscimo de D na região de transição do vidro (Tg ~ 290°C). Nós também aplicamos a técnica de LT para determinar a eficiência quântica fluorescente do ZBLAN dopado com Nd+3. A utilidade desta técnica para determinar as propriedades termo-ópticas dos materiais transparentes em função da temperatura foi demonstrado. / In this work the Thermal Lens (TL) technique was used to determine the absolute values of the thermal diffusivity (D), thermal conductivity (K) and temperature coefficient of the optical path length (ds/dT) of fluoride, chalcogenide, chalcohalide (chalcogenides and halides mixture) and calcium aluminate glass and of a fluoride cristal. These measurements were developed at ambient temperature and near Tg for some samples. For the ZBLAN glass, we performed the TL experiment from ambient to ~ 330°C, observing na abrupt decrease on D close to the glass transition temperature (Tg ~ 290°C). We also applied the TL technique to determine the fluorescence quantum efficiency of Nd+3 doped ZBLAN. The usefulness of this technique to determine thermo-optical properties of transparent materials as a function of the temperature was demonstrated.