Nd+3 doped on TiO2 Nano-sized fiber prepared by sol-Gel Technique for Laser Active Medium

Undopped solution was prepared by dilute the titanium (IV) – iso – propoxide (TTiP) was diluted with 50% of molar ratio of anhydrous ethanol (C2H5OH) in glass beaker, then transferred to round bottom flask (solution A). Another solution, which consisting of the specified amount of water, 50% of molar ratio of the ethanol containing HCl was prepared under very slow mixing to control the turbidity is called (solution B). The later was added to former as dropwise using a burette under continued stirring and the flow of dry nitrogen gas. These process were carried out in a cooler water jacket (i.e. the solution was cooled by water at temperature (10-15) °C). This final product was in the molar ratio of Ti (0-i-C3H7)4 : H2O : C2H5OH : HCl ≡ 1: 1: 10: 01.For doped sample was prepared by doping (Neodymium III Acetylacetonate hydrate) with solution A. The solution A are divided in two part; part 1, was used to dilute (TTIP), to yield the solution Al; the second part was mixed with the dopant precursor (at 0.38 and 0.5 mol% in (TTIP) to yield a homogenous light blue solution; denoted as A2. Then, the solution Al was added dropwise to solution A2; under continued stirring and the flow to dry nitrogen gas, to yield the yellowish solution, denoted as solution A. After that, the solution B was added dropwise to the solution A; under continued stirring and the flow of dry nitrogen gas, to yield eventually the yellowish Nd+3 – TiO2 solution. The possibility of drawing fibers (or spinnability) from the mixed alkoxide solution was checked by immersing a glass rod of about (5 mm) in diameter into the solution and then pulling it up by hand in the course of the hydrolysis and polycondensation reaction