Optical investigation of infrared dyes in sol-gel films

We report on absorption and emission measurements relative to four different infrared (IR) dye molecules (IR1051, IR26, IR5 and IR1100), incorporated in hybrid organic/inorganic zirconia-based thin films synthesised with soi-gel technique. For comparison, measurements in liquid solutions have also been carried out. An estimation of the relative quantum efficiency in solid glassy material with respect to liquid solution is reported for the IR1051 specie. Absorption and emission spectra are discussed in terms of physical and chemical interactions with the host matrix. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence of successful doping of solid films with dyes for planar waveguides emitting in the infrared region up to 1.3 mu m. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.