Non-linear optical property and sol-gel preparation of CuCl-doped sodium borosilicate glasses

The transparent stiff sodium borosilicate gels containing CuCl were synthesized by using tetraethyl orthosilicate/ethanol, boric acid/ethanol, sodium ethoxide/ethanol, CuCl/HCl as precursors. The CuCl-doped glasses were prepared by densification of the stiff gels at 500-600degreesC. The effects of the concentration of CuCl and the chlorhydric acid on the sol, gel and glass were investigated, and the preparation mechanism of CuCl-doped sodium borosilicate glasses were discussed also. The photoluminescence properties of the glasses were studied. The third order nonlinear refractive index of such glasses were characterized by Z-scan method at 1.33mum, and n(2) measured was 3.3x10(-20)m(2)/W.