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Sol-gel/rhodamine 6G composite films with tailored microstructures

Conference ·
OSTI ID:10117666
; ; ;  [1]
  1. Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)

A multi-step hydrolysis procedure was developed to prepare composite organic dye/sol-gel thin films with variable porosity for such as switches or sensors. Variation of acid and base catalyzed hydrolysis sequences of three sols prepared from tetraethoxysilane with identical H{sub 2}O/Si ratios, dilution factors, and pH resulted in considerably different silicate speciation. Under conditions where monomer was avoided, the refractive indices of as-deposited films could be varied by an again step prior to film deposition. This general strategy, which relies on the aggregation of fractal polymeric clusters, is compatible with the low temperature and near neutral pH requirements of both organic dyes and biologically active species such as enzymes.

Research Organization:
Sandia National Labs., Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DP00789
OSTI ID:
10117666
Report Number(s):
SAND--92-0037C; CONF-9207172--1; ON: DE93005364
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English