9314033 Gafney This research is concerned with the study of methodologies capable of incorporating and patterning new materials in transparent media such as glasses needed for new optical technologies. One approach is the photolysis of transition and main group organometallic reagents adsorbed on porous Vycor glass and tetramethylorthosilicate-methanol-water (TMOS/CH3OH/H20) xerogels followed by thermal consolidation to a nonporous glass. Deposition changes the refractive index, and standard photolithographic techniques offer a means of patterning refractive index gradients, magnetic impregnates, and regions of porosity within the host glass. However, there is little information on the nature of the species deposited, their properties, or their effect on the host matrix. In this work, a number of techniques will be used to determine the nature and properties of the deposits. These techniques include electronic and diffuse reflectance fourtier transform infra-red spectroscopy, Mossbauer, electron spin resonance, and other spectroscopic techniques. Specifically, it is proposed to determine the criteria for the deposition of transparent, magnetically-ordered iron in the different glasses, and through a comparison of the results in the different matrices, probe the effect of the host matrix. Cluster precursors and applied magnetic fields will be examined as means to enhance magnetic ordering without necessarily increasing impregnate aggregation. Similar experiments will be conducted using trimetholtin iodide (CH3)3SnI, except in this case, the goal will be to determine how tin prevents consolidation of Si-based glasses. Because porosity offers access into an optical network, this work will examine polymer diffusion as a way to carry reagents that are unable to withstand glass consolidation temperatures, typically >1000C, into an optical network in glass. The photo deposition of Cr-, Er, Nd- organometallics will be examined as a means to deposit laser ac tive species, and tailor optical and magnetic properties. To determine the generality of the technique, photo deposition in Al-, Se and Te-based glasses will be examined. The nature of the species deposited and their properties will be compared to those obtained in Sibased glasses to better understand the role of the host matrix. %%% This research is concerned with the study of methodologies capable of incorporating and patterning new materials in transparent media such as glasses needed for new optical technologies. It is proposed to determine the criteria for the deposition of transparent, magnetically-ordered iron in the different glasses, and probe the effect of the host matrix. To determine the generality of the technique, photo deposition in aluminum-, selenium- and tellurium-based glasses will be examined. The nature of the species deposited and their properties will be compared to those obtained in silicon-based glasses to better understand the role of the host matrix.
