Abstract
We study herein the rotational mobility of organic dye molecules and their ability to align on a strong optical electric field when they are encaged in the pores of an inorganic silica xerogel matrix. We compare the case of dye molecules simply dispersed in the pores of the gel—and possibly held by hydrogen bonds—to the case of molecules chemically grafted on the inner surface of these pores through covalent bonds. The study is led on hybrid silicon-zirconium based inorganic matrices doped with organic rhodamine B molecules. The stronger holding of the dopants when these are grafted to the matrix enhances the molecular alignment—and thus the induced anisotropy—as well as the remanence of this alignment. Furthermore, we show that submitting the samples to a supplementary drying at higher temperature tends to increase both the alignment anisotropy and its stability. We explain these results in terms of mobility of the molecules, in relation to their immediate environment.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
D. Avnir, D. Levy, and R. Reisfeld, J. Phys. Chem. 88, 5956 (1984).
Sol-Gel Optics, SPIE Proc. Ser. 1990 (1990), vol. 1328; Sol-Gel Optics II, SPIE Proc. Ser. 1992 (1992), vol. 1758; Sol-Gel Optics III, SPIE Proc. Ser. 1994 (1994), vol. 2288, and references Therein.
M. Canva, P. Georges, A. Brun, F. Chaput, and J.P. Boilot, J. of Non-Crystalline Solids 147 &148, 627 (1992).
F. Bentivegna, M. Canva, A. Brun, F. Chaput, and J.P. Boilot, Sol-Gel Optics III, SPIE Proc. Ser. 1994 (1994), vol. 2288, p. 609.
M. Canva, P. Georges, A. Brun, F. Chaput, F. Devreux, and J.P. Boilot, Sol-Gel Optics II, SPIE Proc. Ser. 1992 (1992), vol. 1758, p. 529.
G. Pucetti, E. Toussaere, I. Ledoux, J. Zyss, P. Griesmar, and C. Sanchez, Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Polym. Chem. 32, 61 (1991).
D.J. Hook, T.G. Vargo, J.A. Gardella, K.S. Litwiler, and F.V. Bright, Langmuir 7, 142 (1991).
F. Chaput, D. Riehl, Y. Lévy, and J.P. Boilot, J.P. Chem. Mater. 5, 589 (1993).
M.E. Wright, S. Mullick, H.S. Lackritz, and L.Y. Liu, Macromolecules 27, 3009 (1994).
F. Chaput, J.P. Boilot, F. Devreux, M. Canva, P. Georges, and A. Brun, Better Ceramics Through Chemistry V (M.R.S., Chem. Mater. 1992), vol. 271, p. 663.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Bentivegna, F., Canva, M., Brun, A. et al. Optical Alignment of Organic Dopants in a Solid Gel Matrix: Dispersed and Grafted Rhodamine B Molecules. Journal of Sol-Gel Science and Technology 9, 33–39 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026456222574
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026456222574