Polymer-metal optical nanocomposites with tunable particle plasmon resonance prepared by vapor phase co-deposition

Abstract

A simple one-step vapor phase co-deposition at elevated target temperature is employed to generate optical nanocomposites (∼100-300 nm) of polymer-based metallic nanoparticles with uniform size and shape. Homogeneously, three dimensionally distributed isolated Ag nanoparticles are produced with appropriate volume filling (∼10-30%) in Teflon AF matrix at various co-deposition target temperatures of 120-400 °C. An extremely narrow particle size distribution of ∼5-7 nm based on TEM observations is demonstrated. Different ultrathin nanocomposite color filters as a result of plasmon resonance shifting in the UV-VIS wavelength region are also generated. © 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.