Fabrication and characterization of rare-earth metal-chelate-doped plastic film and fiber materials: Eu(3+)-chelate-doped PMMA

High concentration rare-earth metal ion chelates, Europium 6,6.7,7,8,8,8-heptafluoro-2,2-dimethyl-3,5,- octanedionate, (Eu-FOD) doped PMMA fiber and film were successfully prepared for the first time by casting solution method and gel spinning method. The optical and photoelectric characteristics of Eu(3+)-FOD doped PMMA film and fiber were investigated. Amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) from the Eu-FOD doped PMMA film and fiber was observed. The high concentration Eu-FOD-doped PMMA fiber and film sample exhibited lasing threshold as low as o. 15 mJ/ cm2 when pumped with a 355 nm pulsed laser beam.