THE MICROSTRUCTURE OF TITANIUM-MODIFIED SILICA GLASS WAVE-GUIDES PREPARED BY THE SOL-GEL METHOD

Waveguides were prepared by the sol-gel method at ambient temperature from titanium alkoxides and an organically modified silane using the chemically controlled condensation procedure. The structure was studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. A biphasic structure containing (a) modified silica that may form micellar clusters and (b) titania clusters containing chelating acetate with dimensions in the nanometer range is proposed. The composite glass was doped by the pH indicator methyl red and the existence of two separate dye populations was demonstrated. This finding is attributed to dye molecules in separate phases. The optical and spectral properties of the glass are explained by its proposed structure.