Zinc Selenide (ZnSe)

Zinc Selenide (ZnSe) is a polycrystalline infrared material with excellent transmission from the visible through the far infrared. It is the standard material for CO₂ laser optics and is widely used in thermal imaging and IR spectroscopy systems.

• Excellent IR transmission (0.6μm to 18μm)
• Good thermal conductivity for CO₂ lasers
• Standard material for 10.6μm CO₂ optics
• Visible and IR transmission — useful for alignment
• Low absorption at CO₂ wavelength

• Soft material — easily scratched
• Toxic material — special handling required
• High refractive index requires AR coating
• More expensive than Ge or Si
• Yellow/orange color (visible light absorption)

CO₂ laser windows and lenses

Thermal imaging systems

FTIR spectroscopy

Medical laser systems

IR optical sensors