Synthesis and Overall Photophysical Characterization of SiO2:(Ag/SiO2) Nanostructured Sonogel Hybrid Glasses

Bulk SiO2-based inorganic–inorganic sonogel (SG) hybrid glasses were fabricated with Ag/SiO2 supported metal nanoparticles (MNPs). The catalyst-free SG route was implemented to produce these optically active nanostructured composites by doping the liquid sol-phase with Ag/SiO2 synthesized according to the deposition–precipitation method. As prepared Ag/SiO2-MNPs exhibited particle diameters below 10 nm and homogeneous size distribution. The easy and homogeneous Ag/SiO2 loading within the micro/mesoporous SiO2-SG network has evidenced the guest–host chemical affinity of these systems. This fact allowed us to fabricate outstanding chemically, photo-physically and mechanically stable bulk hybrid monoliths with controllable geometry and doping rates, suitable for linear and nonlinear optical (NLO)–spectroscopic characterizations. Indeed, the hosting SG matrix provided an elevated thermal and mechanical stability protecting the reactive Ag nanoparticles from environment conditions, diminishing their tendency t...