Fabrication of uniformly dispersed nanoparticle-doped chalcogenide glass

Abstract

The dispersion of metallic nanoparticles within a chalcogenide glass matrix has the potential for many important applications in active and passive optical materials. However, the challenge of particle agglomeration, which can occur during traditional thin film processing, leads to materials with poor performance. Here, we report on the preparation of a uniformly dispersed Ag-nanoparticle (Ag NP)/chalcogenide glass heterogeneous material prepared through a combined laser- and solution-based process. Laser ablation of bulk silver is performed directly within an arsenic sulfide/propylamine solution resulting in the formation of Ag NPs in solution with an average particle size of less than 15 nm as determined by dynamic light scattering. The prepared solutions are fabricated into thin films using standard coating processes and are then analyzed using energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy to investigate the particle shape and size distribution. By calculating the nearest neighbor index and standard normal deviate of the nanoparticle locations inside the films, we verify that a uniformly dispersed distribution is achieved through this process.

Effect of interphase percolation on mechanical behavior of nanoparticle-reinforced polymer nanocomposite with filler agglomeration: A multiscale approach

“…1,2 The agglomeration of filler particles interrupts the effective penetration and crystallization of the polymer segment in the unoccupied regions, 3,4 as well as the consequent effect of confining the nanoparticles. 5 As insufficient penetration of polymer brushes in the interphase zone naturally results in the formation of a vacancy zone in the agglomeration, it is generally believed to degrade the overall mechanical properties.…”

Single-step synthesis of silver sulfide nanocrystals in arsenic trisulfide

“…The mechanism has been explained through the initial formation of Ag−S bond at the silver and ChG interface, followed by the generation of electron-hole pairs and by the mobility of holes toward the silver layer, while Ag + move in the opposite direction [19]. Recently, we showed the formation of metallic silver nanoparticles in chalcogenide solution using laser ablation of a silver target [21]. Although studies on Ag photodoping in As 2 S 3 have achieved considerable advances, the synthesis of silver sulfide nanocrystals in such material has not been demonstrated yet.…”

Concentration dependence of As2S3 chalcogenide glass cluster size in amine solution

“…12 The glasses dissolve in organic solvents and can then be doped, spin coated, or even inkjet printed with relative ease. [12][13][14][15] Previous research has shown numerous successful applications, including molded mid-IR waveguides, drop-cast photonic crystals, and optical bers with a nonlinearity-enhancing ChG coating. [16][17][18][19] The pioneering work on ChG solutions was done by Chern et al using As 2 S 3 in n-propylamine and n-butylamine as test systems.…”