Structure and waveguide properties of sol-gel derived Gd2O3 films

Pure and rare earth doped gadolinium oxide (Gd2O3) waveguide films were prepared by a simple sol-gel process and dip-coating method. Structure of Gd2O3 filius annealed at different temperature was investigated by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Oriented growth of (400) face of Gd2O3 has been observed when the films were deposited on amorphous substrate. The refractive index and thickness of films were determined by m-lines spectroscopy. The laser beam (lambda = 632.8 nm) was coupled into the film by a prism coupler and the propagation length is about 3.5 cm. Luminescence properties of europium ions doped films were measured by waveguide fluorescence spectroscopy, which shows disordered environment for Eu3+ at 400 degreesC.