Nonlinear optical materials have been synthesized via the sol-gel route. A chemical control of the reactivity of molecular precursors toward hydrolysis and condensation allows the deposition of transparent thin or thick films. Potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP) can be better synthesized from phosphoester precursors [PO(OH)_3-x(OR)_x] rather than phosphoric acid [PO(OH)₃] or phosphate esters [PO(OR)₃]. These precursors lead to crystalline transparent KTP thin films around 600 degree(s)C. Organic molecules for nonlinear optics can be embedded into an oxide sol-gel matrix. Second harmonic generation has been obtained after poling with thick films in which organic chromophores are chemically bonded to the oxide backbone via the use of functionalized silicon alkoxide precursors.

Date Published: 7 December 1992
PDF: 10 pages
Proc. SPIE 1758, Sol-Gel Optics II, (7 December 1992); doi: 10.1117/12.132021

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 1758:
Sol-Gel Optics II
John D. Mackenzie, Editor(s)