Fluorescent rare-earth complex doped acrylate based host-guest system for optical applications fabricated by microstructure technologies
Laboratory for Materials Processing, Institute for Microsystems Technology, University of Freiburg, Germany; 2 Institute for Applied Materials, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany
uwe.gleissner@imtek.uni-freiburg.de
Abstract
Planar optronic systems on flexible foil substrates manufactured by e.g. roll-to-roll techniques or ink-jet printing are receiving considerable interest. The current goal is the realization of a complete optical system consisting of light sources, waveguides, and detectors. To enable an all-optical system an optically active material can be implemented, which is pumped externally. Therefore, we present an acrylate-based system doped with a fluorescent material, which was deposited by ink-jet onto a flexible polymer substrate. As base material Bisphenol A ethoxylate diacrylate was used. To reduce viscosity, which is a critical parameter for inkjet printing, a co-monomer (ethylene glycol dimethacrylate) and to achieve fluorescence, a rare-earth complex (Eu(DBM)3Phen) was added. Afterwards the material mixture was deposited with an ink-jet printer. After printing, the ink was cured by UV light. The next step will be the investigation of concepts to directly couple the light into waveguide structures. Additionally, other fluorescent materials like Rhodamine B and 9,10-Diphenylantracene also appear feasible for printing, leading to multi-wavelength systems.