Sol-gel processed lasers and related optical materials

The paper presents the method by which transparent glassy materials can be prepared using sol-gel technology which can be based on inorganic materials and a combination of inorganic and organic precursors. During the formation at a stage of liquid phase, a large number of optical materials can be incorporated. The final product may result in a large number of optical materials such as lasers, active waveguides, sensors, and luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs). Surface plasmons originated from silver, gold, and copper nanoparticles can greatly enhance the luminescence properties of the sol-gel glasses incorporated by luminescent organic dyes and lanthanide complexes.