Comparative study of oscillator strengths in dye and metal doped silica glasses

In the present study sol gel silica glasses doped with rhodamine dye (Rh6G) and transition metals like silver, copper and iron were prepared at room temperature through sol gel route. The molar concentrations of dye and metal are varied and synthesized to get a uniform dye and metal doped clusters in silica matrices. Structural characterization is performed by SEM and XRD on doped silica glasses. SEM micrographs reveal the size of particles to be 10-50μm. The amorphous structures of the glasses are confirmed by XRD. The absorption spectra are monitored and analyzed. The absorption spectra of fluorescent dye doped sol gel silica glasses are found within the limit of 400-600 nm and the absorption spectra of different metal doped glasses are in the range of 250-350nm. Oscillator strengths of dye doped and metal doped glasses are calculated and compared. Oscillator strength of rhodamine dye doped silica glasses is comparatively higher than the other doped glasses. Silver is seen to have high oscillator strength among the metal doped silica glasses. (paper)