Abstract
Optogeometric properties of La 2 O 3 (Lanthanum Oxide) thin films prepared by sol-gel technique have been investigated. Characterization was derived by M-line spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry and waveguide Raman Spectroscopy. M-line spectroscopy measurements revealed a refractive index of 1.592±0.001 on Pyrex substrate for a wavelength of 543.4nm and thin film thickness of 850nm and 1.589±0.001 on silicon wafer and thickness of single layer is between 40 and 60nm. X-ray diffractrometry has shown that the film has monoclinic structure. Waveguide Raman Spectroscopy has revealed a mixture of La 2 O 3 and La 2 O 2 CO 3 (Lanthanum Oxide Carbonate) which are mainly nanocrystalline and polycrystalline respectively. The research has shown that the La 2 O 3 thin films produced can be used as a planar optical waveguide. The results obtained are comparable with the works of other scientists using different measurement techniques.
Keywords: Lanthanum Oxide, Nanocrystalline, waveguide, X-ray diffractometry, spectroscopy, optogeometric.