Sol–Gel Photonic Glasses: From Material to Application

Abstract

In this review, we present a short overview of the development of sol–gel glasses for application in the field of photonics, with a focus on some of the most interesting results obtained by our group and collaborators in that area. Our main attention is devoted to silicate glasses of different compositions, which are characterized by specific optical and spectroscopic properties for various applications, ranging from luminescent systems to light-confining structures and memristors. In particular, the roles of rare-earth doping, matrix composition, the densification process and the fabrication protocol on the structural, optical and spectroscopic properties of the developed photonic systems are discussed through appropriate examples. Some achievements in the fabrication of oxide sol–gel optical waveguides and of micro- and nanostructures for the confinement of light are also briefly discussed.

Room temperature synthesis of CdSe/CdS triangular nanoemitters and their stabilization in colloidal state and sol–gel glass

“…optical devices, energy conversion and storage, sensing and biosensing). [12][13][14][15][16] Nanoparticles can be entrapped in a solid matrix through a doping process 17 or as a simultaneous matrix and NPs synthesis process. For example, Algradee et al 18 carried out a parallel synthesis of nanoparticles and matrix, obtaining embedded CdS nanocrystals (rounded shape and approximate diameters in the range of 2 to 4.5 nm) in a phosphate glass matrix.…”

Study and Optimization of a Micro-Structured Waveguiding and Fluorescent Sol-Gel Architecture

“…They also highlight that, because of light confinement in the core of the waveguide, the increased light-analyte interaction results in enhanced sensitivity and fast response, which offers an optimal solution for real-time and on-site detection. As demonstrated in several lab-on-chip reports, among the numerous techniques used, the sol-gel process has been shown to be a suitable route for the elaboration of channel waveguide optical and photonic sensors [ 7 , 8 , 9 ], and some papers report on the sol-gel processing of channel waveguide-based integrated biosensors [ 1 , 5 ]. These works demonstrate that the sol-gel process provides an ideal trade-off between low cost and easy implementation, optical quality, as well as mechanical and chemical robustness, and it can be conveniently implemented without requiring a clean room.…”