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Title: Fabrication of uniformly dispersed nanoparticle-doped chalcogenide glass

Journal Article · · Applied Physics Letters
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4905283· OSTI ID:22395607
;  [1];  [1];  [2]
  1. Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton, New Jersey 08544 (United States)
  2. Princeton Institute for the Science and Technology of Materials, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544 (United States)

The dispersion of metallic nanoparticles within a chalcogenide glass matrix has the potential for many important applications in active and passive optical materials. However, the challenge of particle agglomeration, which can occur during traditional thin film processing, leads to materials with poor performance. Here, we report on the preparation of a uniformly dispersed Ag-nanoparticle (Ag NP)/chalcogenide glass heterogeneous material prepared through a combined laser- and solution-based process. Laser ablation of bulk silver is performed directly within an arsenic sulfide/propylamine solution resulting in the formation of Ag NPs in solution with an average particle size of less than 15 nm as determined by dynamic light scattering. The prepared solutions are fabricated into thin films using standard coating processes and are then analyzed using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy to investigate the particle shape and size distribution. By calculating the nearest neighbor index and standard normal deviate of the nanoparticle locations inside the films, we verify that a uniformly dispersed distribution is achieved through this process.

OSTI ID:
22395607
Journal Information:
Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 105, Issue 26; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-6951
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English