Optically active glasses for photonic applications: synthesis, characterization and applications of quantum dots embedded in oxide glasses.

Abstract

The project focuses on the study, synthesis, and characterization of tellurite and fluorophosphate glasses containing chalcogenide quantum dots (QDs), possessing high potentiality for photonic and optoelectronic applications from visible to near infrared. Three main steps will be taken to implement the project. In the first, new tellurite and fluorophosphate glasses will be investigated emphasizing their structural, optical and thermal stability properties. The second step will contemplate the systematic study of QDs nanocrystallization within the vitreous matrices through two processes: (i) controlled thermal treatments above Tg - nucleation and growth processes; and (ii) fs-laser irradiation for nucleation and growth. As in the strict control of the heat treatments, which will be dependent on the structural and thermal glass characteristics, the optical and photoluminescent properties of the QDs-doped glasses will be extensively investigated - composes the central objective of this project. The final step will consist of the practical application of the optically active glasses obtained with desired properties (via chemical composition and QDs nanocrystallization process), in the production and characterization of planar waveguides through microfabrication technique by irradiation with fs-laser. In this context, the project opens a new investigation front in the area of optically active glass materials, still minimally explored in Brazil, through the synthesis and investigation of oxide glass containing semiconductor QDs for practical applications in optics and photonics, such as photoluminescent materials, light emitters, optical amplifiers, optically active planar waveguides. This project is linked to CeRTEV-UFSCar. (AU)