NEW MATERIALS FOR OPTICAL APPLICATIONS BY SOL GEL PROCESSING

Objective

Passive as well as chi(2), chi(3) and amplifying materials can be fabricated by a sol-gel synthesis following an inorganic or an organic-inorganic nanocomposite (Nanomer) route.
Linear waveguides were prepared using hydroslysis based Nanomer systems and embossing as a patterning technique. For applications in the 1.55 µm wavelength region a special chloro-silane based route was developed, resulting in low loss strip waveguides. Furthermore different Nanomer material systems were doped by dyes and different quantum dots to obtain chi(2) and chi(3) efficiency in waveguide applications. Pure inorganic material systems were used for preparation of thick oxide monolayers with main attention to crack free preparation and optical quality. A new technology for glass amplifying waveguides was created using commercially available glasses and glasses prepared by melting of xerogel powders.
Further microoptical elements (gratings, Fresnel lenses) were made by an inorganic as well as a composite sol-gel route.
Materials for optical applications in the 780, 1300 and 1500 nm range (waveguides, non-linear materials, amplifying materials) will be synthesised by sol-gel techniques. Two types of basic materials for thick films will be prepared: SiO2 by a colloidal route and inorganic-organic polymers by well known techniques. For patterning, the materials will be modified by functions to be used in photolithographic and embossing processes (embossing with micropatterned moulds, laser patterning, photolithography). The basic materials will be functionalized by compounds generating second order non-linear susceptibilities (a. push-pull molecules), third order non-linear susceptibilities (b. semiconductor colloids and metal colloids) and amplifying properties (rare earth elements). Several demonstrator components will be fabricated, including passive materials (microlen arrays, strip and slab waveguides) a. and b. demonstrators (strip and slab waveguides) and amplifiers (strip and slab waveguides). The outcomings of the project are expected to provide a technological basis for the fabrication of optical components at competitive costs for a variety of industrial applications.

Similar proposal submitted to Brite/Euram II in march 1992, reference n BE-6133, rated "B".

Fields of science

• natural sciences › physical sciences › condensed matter physics › soft matter physics
• natural sciences › chemical sciences › polymer sciences
• engineering and technology › materials engineering
• natural sciences › physical sciences › electromagnetism and electronics › semiconductivity
• natural sciences › physical sciences › optics › laser physics

Programme(s)

• FP3-BRITE/EURAM 2 - Specific programme (EEC) of research and technological development in the field of industrial and materials technologies, 1990-1994

Topic(s)

• 1.4.4 - Optical materials

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

JENOPTIK GmbH

Address

Carl Zeiss Straße 1
07739 Jena
Germany

Participants (6)

Gel Design & Engineering Srl

Italy

Address

Via Rivoltana 13
20090 Segrate Milano

HERMSDORFER INSTITUT FÜR TECHNIK KERAMIK

Germany

Address

Friedrich-engels-straße 79
6530 Hermsdorf

IROE

Italy

Address

Via Panciatichi 64
50127 Firenze

Institut für neue Materialien gemeinnützige GmbH

Germany

Address

Im Stadtwald Gebäude 15
66123 Saarbrücken

ROBERT BOSCH GmbH

Germany

Address

7000 Stuttgart

University of Manchester

United Kingdom

Address

Schuster Laboratory Oxford Road
M13 9PL Manchester