Samples of (1 – x)SiO2:xGeO2 compositions, containing x = 10 and 20, and doped with Er3+, were prepared by a simple sol-gel route. Homogeneous and transparent gels were synthesized and xerogels were obtained by gel annealing from 700 ºC to 1100 ºC. Films exhibiting high transmittance in the visible and near infrared were deposited by spin-coating technique using the colloidal precursors. The materials were characterized structurally and microstructurally by some techniques. Spherical completely amorphous and tetragonal GeO2 nanocrystals from 3.7 nm to 25.0 nm in diameter embedded in silica-rich amorphous phase materials were obtained. The optical properties were studied by transmission spectra from ultraviolet to near infrared region, photoluminescence measurements in the infrared region, and the average lifetime of the metastable state 4I13/2 of Er3+ ions were determined. The 1 mol% Er3+ doped host with x = 20 have an infrared emission 4.9 times higher than the compound containing x = 10, and the Er3+4I13/2 level present lifetime between 15.0 ms and 7.5 ms. The optical band gap and refractive index values were determined, as well as the Sellmeier parameters. Finally, rib channel waveguides using femtosecond laser etching technique on silica substrates were obtained with width of 15 mm. The 1 mol% Er3+ doped 80SiO2:20GeO2 compounds can be applicable in integrated optical systems.

Energy conversion, involving UV and Vis absorption to generate near infrared (NIR) emission at 1000 nm from nanostructured Pr3+/Yb3+ co-doped SiO2-Nb2O5 for solar cell application was the main focus of this work. The synthesis, structural and optical characterization of Pr3+/Yb3+ co-doped 70SiO2-30Nb2O5 nanocomposites and planar waveguides prepared by the sol gel method are reported. The influence of the rare earth content and thermal annealing on the crystallization process and the luminescence properties was studied. The excitation spectra revealed the energy transfer between the Pr3+ and Yb3+, involving mainly the 3P2 level of Pr3+ ions. Multiphonon decay and cross relaxation processes take place at higher rare earth concentration and annealing temperature, which increases the 1D2 level population and consequently the NIR emission from the Pr3+ ions. The nanostructured Pr3+/Yb3+ co-doped SiO2-Nb2O5 nanocomposites and waveguides show interesting NIR emission and optical properties for photonic applications.

Guias de luz planares foram obtidos a partir de um sol de um novo híbrido Ti4+-acetilacetona (acac)-Ureasil depositado na forma de filmes finos sobre substratos de vidro. A estrutura foi investigada por medidas espectroscópicas (absorção no infravermelho, fotoelétrons de raios-X e espalhamento Raman) e espalhamento de raios-X a baixos ângulos (SAXS). Para a adição do complexo Ti-acac ao ureasil na razão molar Ti:Si de 1:1 interações entre o complexo Ti-acac e grupos siloxanos foram identificadas. Quantidades maiores de Ti4+ (razão molar Ti:Si de 5:1) levam também à formação de nanoagregados ricos em titânio. Os parâmetros ópticos dos guias, como índice de refração, espessura, modos propagados e coeficiente de atenuação foram medidos para 632,8, 543,5 e 1550 nm pela técnica de acoplamento de prisma. O índice de refração pode ser controlado pela quantidade relativa de titânio. Guias de poucos micra de espessura suportam modos de propagação com baixas perdas para todas as composições.

Hybrid planar waveguides were prepared from Ti4+-acetylacetone (acac)-Ureasil sols deposited on glass substrates. Structural features have been investigated by spectroscopic measurements (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman scattering) and Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS). Addition of Ti4+-acac to the ureasil (Ti:Si molar ratio 1:1) leads to the formation of bonds between the Ti complex and the siloxane groups, whereas further addition of Ti4+ (Ti:Si molar ratio 5:1) leads to the additional formation of titanium-rich nanoclusters. The optical parameters of the waveguides such as refractive index, thickness, propagating modes and attenuation coefficient were measured at 632.8, 543.5 and 1550 nm by the prism coupling technique. The refractive index can be tuned by the Ti4+ relative content. The few microns thick planar waveguides support well confined propagating modes with low attenuation loss for all compositions.

The conditions for the preparation of luminescent materials, consisting of Eu3+ ions entrapped in a titanium matrix, in the forma of a thin film, using the sol-gel process, are described. The films were obtained from sols prepared with TEOS and TEOT, in the presence of acetylacetone as the hidrolysis-retarding agent, using the dip-coating and spin-coating techniques. The influence of these techniques on the films based on titanium and silicon are presented. The Eu3+ was used as a luminescent probe. The films have been characterized by luminescence, reflection and transmittance. The thickness of the films could be related to the preparation procedure. Transparent thin films have been prepared by dip-coating technique.

Eu3+ doped bulk monoliths and thin films were obtained by sol-gel methods in the ZrO2, SiO2 and SiO2-TiO2 systems. Eu3+ 5D0 <FONT FACE="Symbol">®</font> 7FJ emission and decay time characteristics were measured during the entire experimental preparation route from the initial sol to the final xerogels. The crystalline phases identified were tetragonal ZrO2 and mixtures of rutile and anatase TiO2 at high temperature treatments in bulk samples. Good quality thin films were obtained for all systems by dip-coating optical glasses (Schott BK270). The same spectroscopic features were observed either for the bulk monoliths or the films. By appropriate heat treatments under H2 atmosphere Eu2+ containing samples could be obtained in the SiO2-TiO2 system.