Aerosol–gel deposition of photocurable ORMOSIL films doped with a terbium complex

Abstract Photocurable SiO 2 –TiO 2 ORMOSIL films have been deposited using the aerosol–gel process. 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propylmethacrylate and tetraisopropyl-orthotitanate complexed with methacrylic acid were used as sol–gel precursors. Doping with a terbium:sulphosalicylic acid complex was also studied to test the deposition of optically active photocurable films. Photopolymerization and photoluminescence properties of the films are reported. The results demonstrate the potential of UV-writing of aerosol–gel deposited active thin films.