Abstract
Polyvinyl alcohol is unique among polymers. Apart from its preparation, it is not built up in polymerization reactions from monomers, unlike most vinyl-polymers, and it is biodegradable in the presence of suitably acclimated microorganisms. It is an environmentally friendly material for a wide range of applications, from medical ones, based on its biocompatibility, to integrated optics. This paper reviews, in addition to the preparation and optimization of films of polyvinyl alcohol doped with different metal species, the role of dopants and doping technologies in the involved electronic mechanism. The optical properties were studied by UV-VIS-IR, Mössbauer spectroscopy, and other measurement techniques, with applications such as real-time holography, microlasers, optical sensors or nanophotonics in mind.