Materials >> ZnSe optics

ZINC SELENIDE (ZnSe) windows and lenses

Alkor Technologies manufactures ZnSe (CVD) optical components: ZnSe windows, ZnSe lenses, ZnSe wedges, ZnSe prisms.

ZnSe transmission

ZnSe transmittance. Sample thickness 10mm.

Please visit our new ZnSe windows catalog.

Zinc Selenide is used for infrared windows, lenses and prisms where transmission in the range 0.58mkm to 22mkm is desired . The refractive index is near 2.4. Zinc Selenide has a very low absorbtion coefficient and is used extensively for high power infrared laser optic. It is non-hygroscopic.

Zinc Selenide is a relatively soft material and scrathes rather easily. The low absorbtion of the material avoids the thermal runaway problem of Germanium. Zinc Selenide windows and lenses requires an anti-reflection coating due to its high refractive index if high transmission is required.

We offer two types of ZnSe: CVD and PVD (ceramic PO4).
The largest dimensions of ZnSe optics: Dia 100x15mm

Chemical Formula ZnSe
Molecular Weight 144.33
Crystal Class Cubic, hexagonal
Crystal Structure Polycrystalline
Density, g/cm3 at 293 K 5.27
Melting Temperature, K 1790
Thermal Conductivity, W/(m K) at 300 K 18
Thermal Expansion, 1/K
at 173 K
at 273 K
at 473 K

5.6 x 10-6
7.1 x 10-6
8.3 x 10-6
Specific Heat, cal/(g K) at 296 K 0.081
Debye Temperature, K 246
Bandgap, eV 2.7
Solubility in water at 298 K 0.001 g/100 g H2O
Knoop Hardness, kg/mm2(100 g load) 105
Young's Modulus, GPa 70
Bulk Modulus, GPa 40
Poisson's Ratio 0.28
 

Refractive Index

Wavelength, µm

2.75

5.00

7.50

9.50

11.0

12.5

13.5

15.0

16.0

16.9

17.8

18.6

19.3

20.0

Refractive Index

2.44

2.43

2.42

2.41

2.40

2.39

2.38

2.37

2.36

2.35

2.34

2.33

2.32

2.31