Copper nanoparticles within amorphous and crystalline dielectric matrices

Two approaches are considered for synthesis of Cu nanoparticles within amorphous and crystalline matrices, which allow fabrication of “nanoparticles-in-dielectric” nanocomposites. The first one is based on the sol–gel technique producing dielectric silica films with copper nanoparticles. The particles provide an optical response of the composite material due to the plasmon resonance band. In the second approach the nanoparticles are produced within the crystalline zeolite matrices, which are able to stabilize both the few-atomic clusters and the nanoparticles. This optically active crystalline material is now introduced into a sol–gel matrix to produce transparent films.