Preparation and properties of active waveguides based on zirconia glasses

We describe the preparation and characterization of zirconia based planar waveguides. The sol-gel technique allowing the preparation of glass films at room temperature was applied. Zirconium propoxide and organically modified silicates (ORMOSIL's) were used as precursors. Acetic acid was used as a chelating agent to stabilize the zirconia precursor. Films were prepared by dip coating on the glass substrate. Multimode light guiding was demonstrated in the films. The properties of films: refraction index, thickness and transparency were studied. The refractive index of 1.69 allows trapping of the light allowing its guidance. In order to produce active waveguides, films were doped by laser dyes; Rhodamine B, LFR 300 (red perylimide dye), Pyrromethene 567 and LDS 730. The UV-vis and fluorescence spectra of dopants were measured. The possibility of the use of the active waveguides far optical and laser applications was shown. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.