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

摘要

Organic-inorganic hybrid transparent materials containing chromium ion-doped forsterite (Cr:Mg_2SiO_4) 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:Mg_2SiO_4 nanocrystals ultrasonically. The hybrid materials containing Cr:Mg_2SiO_4 with high transparency are realized by matching refractive indices of the host matrices with that of Cr:Mg_2SiO_4 by controlling starting sols' composition. A broad emission centered at 1170 nm is confirmed under the excitation at 976 nm.