Organically modified sol-gel films doped with infrared dyes: an optical investigation

Steady-state absorption and emission measurements for an infrared (IR) dye, commercially known as IR1051, have been reported. Measurements in liquid solutions and in hybrid organic/inorganic zirconia-b sed thin films synthesized with a sol-gel technique have been carried out. The optical properties of films as a function of the densification temperature have also been investigated. The results are discussed in terms of the presence of monomer and dimer species of the dye and of the physical and chemical interactions with the host matrix. 1