Résumé : Two chalcogenide films with composition Ge25-Sb10+xS65 (x = 0, 10) and Te20As30Se50, called 2S1G and TAS, respectively, are studied. These materials have high linear and nonlinear refractive indices and present interesting photosensitive behavior toward bandgap light. Further, these chalcogenides glasses can be deposited in an amorphous thin ?lm for optical coatings or waveguides. Their properties and limitations, including their photoinduction effects, nonlinear Kerr effect, photodiffusion of silver, and aging, are discussed. © 2010 Chinese Optics Letters.