Novel tantalum based photocurable hybrid sol-gel material employed in the fabrication of channel optical waveguides and three-dimensional structures

▶ In this study we have developed for the first time photocurable hybrid organosiloxane-tantalum based materials. ▶ The structuration of this material employing both single photon and two-photon polymerisation techniques allowed the fabrication of non-shrinking planar and three-dimensional structures. ▶ The optical losses at the telecommunication wavelengths in the fabricated waveguides have been measured to be significantly lower than similar materials due to the peculiar high condensation of this material, leading to low absorbing hydroxyl groups.