SPR of Ag nanoparticles in photothermochromic glasses

Noble metal nanoparticles (MNPs) are widely used for fabrication of metal-dielectric plasmonic nanostructures with optical properties attractive for applications. The MNPs embedded in a glass matrix are known to exhibit an intense color related to the resonance oscillation of the free conduction electrons known as surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Silver nanoparticles with diameter about 2 nm are shown to be formed in the subsurface layer of photothermorefractive (PTR) glasses after electron beam irradiation with subsequent heat treatment. The type of MNPs depends on the composition of the PTR glass. The size distribution and MNP concentration depend on irradiation dozes and heat treatment temperatures. The report presents the technology of silver NP fabrication, experimental optical absorption spectra, low frequency Raman scattering, and TEM images used for determination of the MNP size distribution, and simulation of optical extinction spectra using generalized Mie model of light scattering.