Laser dye impregnated silica sol-gel monoliths

摘要

The present invention relates to a dye laser including a highly porous, consolidated silica sol-gel monolith having incorporated therein at least one laser dye, wherein the dye laser is substantially solvent free. The dye laser is prepared by immersing a highly porous, consolidated silica sol-gel monolith in a solution of at least one laser dye and at least one solvent until the solution enters the pores of the monolith to a significant degree to form an impregnated silica sol-gel monolith, and then drying the impregnated silica sol-gel monolith to vaporize substantially all the solvent present within the pores of the monolith.