Rare-Earth Doped, Low Hydroxyl Organically Modified Silicates

Abstract
Low-hydroxyl organically modified silicates (ORMOSILS) were fabricated by a non-hydrolytic reaction between methyl-modified silicon halides and tertiary butyl alcohol under controlled atmosphere. The gels were characterized by DTA and TGA., FTIR, 1H NMR and 29Si NMR. The solutions were doped with anhydrous Erl3, which was dissolved in the sol prior to gelation. Er3+luminescence in the gels was observed at 570 nm under excitation at 488 nm.