Structural Developments in Ion-Implanted Sol-Gel Films and Resulting Glasses

离子注入溶胶-凝胶薄膜和所得玻璃的结构发展

• 批准号: 0605905
• 负责人: John Kieffer
• 金额: --
• 依托单位: Regents of the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2006
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2006-09-01 至 2009-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0605905&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Structural; Developments; Ion; Implanted; Sol

NON-TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Planar optical waveguides are the basis for devices used in optical signal processing and telecommunication. To fabricate such devices, small channels with particular light-guiding and light-amplifying properties are created on a glass plate, by changing its chemical composition along specific patterns near the surface. Adding elements that are most effective from optical and photonic points of view is curbed due to poor compatibility with the glass structure. This research is to develop a novel technology for the eventual manufacture of planar waveguides, based on ion beam implantation of the optically active elements into a precursor of the glass. A new manufacturing process is expected to improve the performance of planar waveguide devices manifold and help facilitate new technologies, such as optical computers and data storage. In carrying out this project, future engineers and scientists are trained in glass science and computational materials research. The findings of this work will enter the public domain and contribute to the body of information used in public and industry outreach activities.TECHNICAL DETAILS: The focus of the proposed investigation is the insertion of atomic and nano-sized particles into a glass matrix to achieve particular functions, such as light guiding or photoluminescence. Non-equilibrium processing routes, combining low-temperature sol-gel synthesis and ion implantation, will be explored to create porous and dense amorphous structures that can accommodate optically active embedded species at concentrations and spatial distributions that significantly improve the performance of planar optical waveguides compared to current capabilities. The fundamental aspects of how precursor chemistry, implantation doses, and processing schedules affect the structure and properties of the waveguide materials will be investigated through in-situ structural characterization using concurrent Brillouin and Raman light scattering measurements, complemented by MD simulations, Rutherford backscattering, secondary ion mass spectroscopy, and photoluminescence measurements. This research leverages the NSF-sponsored acquisition of a new ion implanter at the University of Michigan, which provides the ability to implant rare-earth elements at sufficiently high energies.

非技术描述：平面光波导是用于光信号处理和通信的器件的基础。为了制造这样的设备，通过改变玻璃板表面附近特定图案的化学成分，在玻璃板上形成具有特定导光和光放大特性的小通道。从光学和光子的角度来看，添加最有效的元素由于与玻璃结构的兼容性差而受到限制。这项研究是为了开发一种新的技术，最终制造平面波导，基于离子束注入的光学活性元素到玻璃的前驱体。一种新的制造工艺有望改善平面波导器件的性能，并有助于促进光学计算机和数据存储等新技术的发展。在实施这个项目的过程中，未来的工程师和科学家将接受玻璃科学和计算材料研究方面的培训。这项工作的结果将进入公共领域，并有助于公共和工业宣传活动中使用的资料。技术细节：该研究的重点是将原子和纳米级粒子插入到玻璃基体中，以实现特定的功能，如光导或光致发光。非平衡加工路线，结合低温溶胶-凝胶合成和离子注入，将探索创建多孔和致密的非晶态结构，可以容纳光活性嵌入物质的浓度和空间分布，与现有能力相比，显著提高平面光波导的性能。前体化学、注入剂量和加工计划如何影响波导材料的结构和性能的基本方面将通过使用同步布里渊和拉曼光散射测量、MD模拟、卢瑟福后向散射、二次离子质谱和光致发光测量进行原位结构表征来研究。这项研究利用了美国国家科学基金会在密歇根大学资助的一种新的离子注入机，它提供了以足够高的能量注入稀土元素的能力。