Hybrid materials for optics and photonics

Abstract

The interest in organic-inorganic hybrids as materials for optics and photonics started more than 25 years ago and since then has known a continuous and strong growth. The high versatility of sol-gel processing offers a wide range of possibilities to design tailor-made materials in terms of structure, texture, functionality, properties and shape modelling. From the first hybrid material with optical functional properties that has been obtained by incorporation of an organic dye in a silica matrix, the research in the field has quickly evolved towards more sophisticated systems, such as multifunctional and/or multicomponent materials, nanoscale and self-assembled hybrids and devices for integrated optics. In the present critical review, we have focused our attention on three main research areas: passive and active optical hybrid sol-gel materials, and integrated optics. This is far from exhaustive but enough to give an overview of the huge potential of these materials in photonics and optics (254 references).

Crystallization in hybrid organic-inorganic materials through self-organization from 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane

“…26)28) Several commercial materials for photonics, which are based on GPTMS are nowadays commercially available. 29) Beside this large variety of applications the chemistry of GPTMS is still showing some surprising and distinct characteristics to be used for the preparation of new types of hybrids. One of the main difficulties in controlling the chemical reactions during the solgel process of GPTMS is that several side reactions can be observed during the synthesis.…”

Photochromic Intercalation Compounds

“…In order to evaluate the photochemical reactions, solids with photochemically inert and optically transparent in UV and visible light are useful. Therefore, various polymers and silica gels have been used [26,[43][44][45][46]. The optical transparency has been achieved for amorphous systems, so that, in general, the concentration of the dye is low, and the orientation and distribution of the photochromic moiety are random.…”

Optically Clear and Resilient Free-Form <em>&micro;</em>-Optics 3D-Printed via Ultrafast Laser Lithography

“…Lithography oriented hybrid organic-inorganic polymers emerged as great materials for fabrication of objects in both 2D and 3D configurations [1][2][3]. They are choice material for 3D femtosecond laser structuring due to several convenient features.…”