TY - JOUR
T1 - Sol–gel-derived glass-ceramic photorefractive films for photonic structures
AU - Lukowiak, Anna
AU - Zur, Lidia
AU - Tran, Lam Thi Ngoc
AU - Meneghetti, Marcello
AU - Berneschi, Simone
AU - Conti, Gualtiero Nunzi
AU - Pelli, Stefano
AU - Trono, Cosimo
AU - Bhaktha, B.N. Shivakiran
AU - Zonta, Daniele
AU - Taccheo, Stefano
AU - Righini, Giancarlo C.
AU - Ferrari, Maurizio
PY - 2017/2/21
Y1 - 2017/2/21
N2 - Glass photonics are widespread, from everyday objects around us to high-tech specialized devices. Among different technologies, sol–gel synthesis allows for nanoscale materials engineering by exploiting its unique structures, such as transparent glass-ceramics, to tailor optical and electromagnetic properties and to boost photon-management yield. Here, we briefly discuss the state of the technology and show that the choice of the sol–gel as a synthesis method brings the advantage of process versatility regarding materials composition and ease of implementation. In this context, we present tin-dioxide–silica (SnO2–SiO2) glass-ceramic waveguides activated by europium ions (Eu3+). The focus is on the photorefractive properties of this system because its photoluminescence properties have already been discussed in the papers presented in the bibliography. The main findings include the high photosensitivity of sol–gel 25SnO2:75SiO2 glass-ceramic waveguides; the ultraviolet (UV)-induced refractive index change (∆n ~ −1.6 × 10−3), the easy fabrication process, and the low propagation losses (0.5 ± 0.2 dB/cm), that make this glass-ceramic an interesting photonic material for smart optical applications.
AB - Glass photonics are widespread, from everyday objects around us to high-tech specialized devices. Among different technologies, sol–gel synthesis allows for nanoscale materials engineering by exploiting its unique structures, such as transparent glass-ceramics, to tailor optical and electromagnetic properties and to boost photon-management yield. Here, we briefly discuss the state of the technology and show that the choice of the sol–gel as a synthesis method brings the advantage of process versatility regarding materials composition and ease of implementation. In this context, we present tin-dioxide–silica (SnO2–SiO2) glass-ceramic waveguides activated by europium ions (Eu3+). The focus is on the photorefractive properties of this system because its photoluminescence properties have already been discussed in the papers presented in the bibliography. The main findings include the high photosensitivity of sol–gel 25SnO2:75SiO2 glass-ceramic waveguides; the ultraviolet (UV)-induced refractive index change (∆n ~ −1.6 × 10−3), the easy fabrication process, and the low propagation losses (0.5 ± 0.2 dB/cm), that make this glass-ceramic an interesting photonic material for smart optical applications.
KW - attenuation coefficient
KW - Lorentz–Lorenz formula
KW - photorefractivity
KW - planar waveguides
KW - SnO–SiO
KW - Sol–gel
KW - transparent glass-ceramics
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85013836238&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/cryst7020061
DO - 10.3390/cryst7020061
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85013836238
VL - 7
JO - Crystals
JF - Crystals
SN - 2073-4352
IS - 2
M1 - 61
ER -