Surface dissolution and diffusion of oxygen molecules in SiO2 glass

Surface dissolution and diffusion of oxygen molecules (O-2) in SiO2 glass were studied by their photoluminescence at 1272 nm excited with a titanium sapphire laser oscillating at 765 nm. The dissolution Of O-2 from ambient atmosphere at both surfaces was much faster than the following diffusion Of O-2 into SiO2 glass, indicating that the surface dissolution is not the rate-limiting step for the saturation Of SiO2 glass with O-2. The time- and temperature-dependent concentration changes Of O-2 allow to evaluate the diffusion coefficient and the saturation solubility Of O-2 in SiO2 glass.