AVS 46th International Symposium
    Thin Films Division Monday Sessions
       Session TF-MoP

Paper TF-MoP7
Improved Light Stability of Colored SiO@sub 2@ Coatings Containing Organic and Metalorganic Dye Molecules

Monday, October 25, 1999, 5:30 pm, Room 4C

Session: Poster Session
Presenter: Y.V. Vorobiev, CINVESTAV-IPN, Mexico
Authors: L.L. Diaz-Flores, Inst. Tecnologico de Saltillo, Mexico
J.J. Perez-Bueno, Univ. Autonoma de Queretaro, Mexico
F.J. Espinoza-Beltran, CINVESTAV-IPN, Mexico
R. Ramirez-Bon, CINVESTAV-IPN, Mexico
Y.V. Vorobiev, CINVESTAV-IPN, Mexico
J. Gonzalez-Hernandez, CINVESTAV-IPN, Mexico
Correspondent: Click to Email
The sol-gel method has been used to prepare SiO@sub 2@coatings containing various amounts of organic and metalorganic dyes, introduced in the starting solutions. The starting solutions were mixed of tetraethylorthosilicate, water and ethanol. In order to have a better dispersion of the molecular dye into the glass matrix, the starting solutions were subjected to a milling process at various times using an appropriated ball mill. It is observed that in the coatings prepared from solutions without the milling process, the dye is agglomerated into small particles and those prepared from solutions subjected to the milling process show much better dye dispersion. A good dispersion is achieved after about 4 hr of milling, this is reflected in an increase in the optical absorption and makes the samples stable to light exposure. Both results are explained using a model which predicts the degree of dye dispersion. Using this model, an estimation of the size of the dye aggregates is made.