Surface Dissolution and Diffusion of Oxygen Molecules in SiO₂ Glass

Abstract

Surface dissolution and diffusion of oxygen molecules (O₂) in SiO₂ glass were studied by their photoluminescence at 1272 nm excited with a titanium sapphire laser oscillating at 765 nm. The dissolution of O₂ from ambient atmosphere at both surfaces was much faster than the following diffusion of O₂ into SiO₂ glass, indicating that the surface dissolution is not the rate-limiting step for the saturation of SiO₂ glass with O₂. The time- and temperature-dependent concentration changes of O₂ allow to evaluate the diffusion coefficient and the saturation solubility of O₂ in SiO₂ glass.