Elaboration and characterization of Gd2O3 waveguiding thin films prepared by the sol-gel process

Waveguiding thin films of gadolinium oxide (Gd2O3) were prepared by a conve ntional sol-gel process. The films were successfully synthesized using gado linium isopropoxide in toluene/isopropanol (3:2). A homogeneous and stable solution was obtained by the reaction with acetylacetone. Precursor films w ere deposited using a dip coating method. The layers' crystallization condi tions were carefully studied to obtain the purr gadolinium oxide phase. Gad olinium oxide (Gd2O3) was obtained at annealing temperatures around 650 deg reesC. Thermal differential analysis, infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffract ion and Raman spectroscopy in waveguiding configuration were used to charac terize the gadolinium oxide films. Optical properties of the waveguiding la yers are presented and discussed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.