Transformation of porous doped silica xerogels into multicomponent bulk amorphous monoliths with interesting optical properties

A technique for the fabrication of glassy silica materials doped with ultrafine metal and semiconductor particles was developed. The porosity of xerogels produced under incomplete polycondensation strongly influences the chemical state of the final products, which are formed by reactions of xerogel-dopants in different atmospheres. In particular, the process leading to copper sulphide and copper selenide nanoparticles which are promising for non-linear optical applications due to the appearance of a new absorption band in the near IR, was studied. 48 refs.