Tantalum oxide nanomers for optical applications

Bert Braune; Peter Mueller; Helmut K. Schmidt

doi:10.1117/12.312912

6 July 1998 Tantalum oxide nanomers for optical applications

Bert Braune, Peter Mueller, Helmut K. Schmidt

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 3469, Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Materials for Photonics; (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.312912
Event: SPIE's International Symposium on Optical Science, Engineering, and Instrumentation, 1998, San Diego, CA, United States

Abstract

The synthesis of transparent nanomers by the incorporation of nanoscaled tantalum oxide into an organic-inorganic composite matrix and their subsequent characterization are presented. The matrix materials used consist of a mixture of organically functionalized silanes and polymerizable monomers. The mixture does not exhibit phase separation, even down to the lowest nanometer scale, as revealed by SAXS measurements. The addition of nanoscaled Ta₂O₅ particles (mean particle diameter: 4 nm as determined by photon correlation spectroscopy) aims to increase the refractive index of the nanomers. The preparation of the oxide sol and the optimization of the synthesis with respect to compatibility with the matrix material, thereby avoiding agglomeration effects, is described. After incorporation of the particles in the monomer mixture, a photopolymerization step, followed by curing with a temperature program up to 90 degrees Celsius, led to colorless and transparent monoliths. The volume shrinkage, caused by polymerization, decreases from 8.2% for the unfilled matrix material to 5.8% for a nanomer containing 30 wt.% tantalum oxide. The shrinkage decreases linearly with increasing filler content of tantalum oxide. The increase in refractive index is about 7.4 X 10^-4 per wt.% oxide (measured at a wavelength of 546.1 nm). The coloration of the monoliths is expressed as yellowness index G according to DIN 6167. Color values attained for nanometers with up to 15 wt.% tantalum oxide are comparable to values for commercial optical polymer materials. Nanomers containing 15 wt.% tantalum oxide show transparency losses at a wavelength of 850 nm below 0.1 dB/cm.

Citation Download Citation

Bert Braune, Peter Mueller, and Helmut K. Schmidt "Tantalum oxide nanomers for optical applications", Proc. SPIE 3469, Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Materials for Photonics, (6 July 1998); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.312912

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

;

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available

Members: $17.00

Non-members: $21.00 ADD TO CART

PROCEEDINGS
9 PAGES

DOWNLOAD PAPER SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

GET CITATION

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Get copyright permission Get copyright permission on Copyright Marketplace

KEYWORDS

Particles

Oxides

Tantalum

Refractive index

Transparency

Composites

Polymerization

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years