Elaboration and characterization of Gd₂O₃ waveguiding thin films prepared by the sol-gel process

Waveguiding thin films of gadolinium oxide (Gd₂O₃) were prepared by a conventional sol-gel process. The films were successfully synthesized using gadolinium isopropoxide in toluene/isopropanol (3:2). A homogeneous and stable solution was obtained by the reaction with acetylacetone. Precursor films were deposited using a dip coating method. The layers' crystallization conditions were carefully studied to obtain the pure gadolinium oxide phase. Gadolinium oxide (Gd₂O₃) was obtained at annealing temperatures around 650 °C. Thermal differential analysis, infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy in waveguiding configuration were used to characterize the gadolinium oxide films. Optical properties of the waveguiding layers are presented and discussed.