Organic-inorganic composite materials : optical properties of laser patterned and protective coated waveguides

Abstract

A composite material based on organically modified Si alkoxides and modified alkoxides from Zr were prepared. The index of refraction of the system was tailored by the variation of the modified Zr component. Channel waveguides were prepared by a laserwriting technique based on the ability to photopolymerize this material. To decrease optical loss caused by effects of the waveguide surface and to be independent of the used substrate, a buffer layer and a protective layer of the same material of lower index of refraction was combined with a waveguiding film and optical losses were determined.