Synthesis and Characterization of Organic Dye Doped Silica Glasses

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe sol-gel process was used to incorporate organic dyes including Rhodamine 6G (Rh6G), 2-(4-pyridyl)-5-(4-phenyl) oxazole (4PyPO) and the n-methyl tosylate salt of 2-(4-pyridyl)-5-(4-methoxy phenyl)oxazole (4PyMPO-MePTS) in silica gel. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) analysis of the dye doped gels showed that the gel structure loses the adsorbed water molecules from room temperature to 150°C and decomposition of the dye molecules followed at the higher temperature. Absorption and emission of the dyes in the sol-gel glass matrix were also studied and compared with the results of the dyes in alcohol solution. The environments of the dye in silica were different than in alcohol solution.