Study of Eu(DBM)3phen-doped optical polymer waveguides

Eu(DBM)(3)phen-doped polymer optical planar waveguides with low propagation loss of 0.5 dB/cm have been fabricated. The optical properties and concentration quenching of Eu(DBM)3phen-doped poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) have been studied. The Eu3+ ion in Eu(DBM)(3)phen-doped PMMA can be doped to high concentration (1 wt. %) without clustering. An Eu(DBM)3phen-doped polymer waveguiding film with a very smooth surface was obtained. An atomic force microscope measurement result indicates that rms surface roughness of the waveguiding film is similar to 1.185 nm. The near-field fluorescence was observed on Eu(DBM)3phen-doped waveguiding film with 1-wt. % Eu3+ ions. (c) 2005 Optical Society of America.