Organic-inorganic hybrid transparent materials containing chromium ion-doped forsterite crystals as gain media

Abstract

Organic-inorganic hybrid transparent materials containing chromium ion-doped forsterite (Cr: Mg2 Si O4) crystals are investigated as gain media. Thin films and bulk samples are prepared by a sol-gel technique. Starting sols for host matrices, which are prepared from diphenyldimethoxysilane, 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane, and titanium tetra- n -butoxide, are mixed with flame spray made Cr: Mg2 Si O4 nanocrystals ultrasonically. The hybrid materials containing Cr: Mg2 Si O4 with high transparency are realized by matching refractive indices of the host matrices with that of Cr: Mg2 Si O4 by controlling starting sols' composition. A broad emission centered at 1170 nm is confirmed under the excitation at 976 nm. © 2008 American Institute of Physics.