Generation of silver nanoparticles with controlled size and spatial distribution by pulsed laser irradiation of silver ion-doped glass.

Silver ions were driven into glass by a direct current electric field-assisted ion exchange technique. The silver ion exchanged glass was then irradiated by laser pulses of 10 ns and 10 ps in length at 355 nm for comparison purposes. In both cases, laser irradiation led to the formation of a metallic-like film at the surface of the ion exchange glass. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the films consist of a very dense single layer of silver nanoparticles with similar particle sizes and separation. Irradiation with different laser parameters shows no significant difference in transmission spectra and modification width between ps- and ns-pulsed lasers. Particle sizes and separation at the surface are increasing with increasing laser power, and are larger for picosecond pulsed laser irradiation. It is also shown that the film formation is a thermal process.