Self-arrangement of periodic layers of silver nanoparticles in silicate glass

Abstract

We studied the influence of hydrogen-reducible metal ions concentration profile under the surface of ion exchanged glass on the behavior of the layered glass-metal nanocomposite which can be formed via self-arranging in the course of thermal processing of the glass in hydrogen atmosphere. The modeling shows that depending of the ascending or descending type of the concentration profile the layered nanocomposite with decreasing or increasing gaps between the layers of nanoparticles can be formed. In certain cases the mean radius and the particle size-distribution function may be the same among the subsequent layers. A proper choice of the ascending concentration profile can provide practically equidistant layers of the nanocomposite applicable for photonic crystals and Bragg gratings.