Transmittance examination in sol-gel derived matrices for optoelectronic applications

The sol-gel-derived materials provide excellent matrices for a variety of organic and inorganic compounds. They can be exploited for the construction of various optoelectronic devices, including semiconductors or optodes of fiberoptic sensors. Different types of materials were studied: pure sol-gel matrices prepared on the way of acid hydrolysis, various doped matrices with embedded albumin, urease and osmium tetraoxide, as well as high-temperature treated sol-gel bulks. The transmittance spectra were measured in visible, as well as in W region. The room temperature stored samples show the highest transmittance in both: visible and in UV spectrum, compared to the heated ones. The transmittances of heated matrices depend strongly on the heating temperature. The influence of the dopants on the matrices transmittance behavior is studied, as well. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.