Tuning the morphology of silver nanostructures photochemically coated on glass substrates: an effective approach to large-scale functional surfaces. (3rd February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zaier, Mohamed; Vidal, Loic; Hajjar-Garreau, Samar; Bubendorff, Jean-Luc; Balan, Lavinia
• Is Part Of: Nanotechnology. Volume 28:Number 10(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-02-03
• Subjects: silver nanostructures -- plasmonic layers -- optical properties -- UV-irradiation; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanotechnology; Publications périodiques; Nanotechnologies; Periodicals; 620.5
• DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/28/10/105603
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0957-4484

Abstract

Abstract: This paper reports on a simple and environmentally friendly photochemical process capable of generating nano-layers (8–22 nm) of silver nanostructures directly onto glass surfaces. This approach opens the way to large-scale functionalized surfaces with plasmonic properties through a single light-induced processing. Thus, Ag nanostructures top-coated were obtained through photo-reduction, at room temperature, of a photosensitive formulation containing a metal precursor, free from extra toxic stabilizers or reducing agents. The reactive formulation was confined between two glass slides and exposed to a continuous near-UV source. In this way, stable silver nano-layers can be generated directly on the substrate with a very good control of the morphology of as-synthesized nanostructures that allows tailoring the optical properties of the coated layers. The position and width of the corresponding surface plasmon resonance bands can be adjusted over a broad spectral window. By extension, this low-cost and easy-to-apply process can also be used to coat ultra thin layers of metal nanostructures on a variety of substrates. The possibility of controlling of nanostructures shape should achieve valuable developments in many fields, as diverse as plasmonics, surface enhanced Raman scattering, nano-electronic circuitry, or medical devices.