ChemInform Abstract: Zirconia and Zirconia‐ORMOSIL Planar Waveguides Prepared at Room Temperature.

Abstract

Zirconia and Zirconia-ORMOSIL Planar Waveguides Prepared at Room Temperature.-Waveguiding films of zirconia or zirconiaorganically-modified silicates (ORMOSIL) are prepared by a sol-gel process at room temp. using HOAc as chelating agent, Zr(OPr)4 as precursor, and glycidyloxipropyltrimethoxysilane as modifier. The films, characterized by FTIR, XPS, DTA/TG, DSC, and XRD methods, contain propoxy, acetate, and hydroxyl ligands. The combination of high porosity, chemical resistance, hydrophilicity, and sufficient refractive indices makes the material suitable for the preparation of waveguide-based optical sensors for use even in water. -(SOREK, Y.; ZEVIN, M.; REISFELD, R.; HURVITS, T.; RUSCHIN, S.; Chem.