Photo-Induced Self-Assembly of Silver Nanoparticles for Rapid Generation of First and Second Surface Mirrors

Abstract

Interesting mirror-like, highly reflective, and conductive silver films have been successfully generated directly on a glass slide using a simple and fast photoinduced approach. A water-based photosensitive formulation containing the silver precursor and a photogenerator of free radicals was used. It was applied like paint and exposed to UV light for a few seconds, in the absence of any additional reducing agents and without further treatment of any kind. This approach allowed ultrathin films of silver nanoparticles to be generated in situ (AgNPs) on the back side of the glass substrate. The particles are homogeneously autoassembled onto the glass surface and the glass/silver diopter exhibits a high reflective character. With such an experimental arrangement, reflective surfaces are obtained: in contact with the glass slide, which is called the second surface mirror, and on the air side, which is called the first surface mirror. Quite interestingly, these reflective and conductive thin films exhibit strong natural adhesion on the glass substrate without the need for enhancing treatments (sensitization or activation) to improve the adhesion of the silver layer to the glass, as usual with silver glass mirrors. The influence of several chemical and photonic parameters has been examined in order to optimize the final optical and electrical properties of these silver films.

The Incorporation of Amplified Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence in a CMOS-Based Biosensor Increased the Detection Sensitivity of a DNA Marker of the Pathogenic Fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides

“…The formation of a silver layer on a glass surface has been well-known for several decades and described in multiple studies [ 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 ] and patents [ 45 , 46 , 47 ] by applying various techniques. The most-common silver-deposition reaction is based on Tollens’ reagent, which is a colorless solution of a diamminesilver(I) complex that is created by a mixture of silver nitrate, ammonia, and alkaline [ 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 ].…”

Interpenetrating polymer network hydrogels using natural based dyes initiating systems: Antibacterial activity and 3D/4D performance

“…As shown in Figure 6, the characteristic absorption peak of the dye at 390 nm gradually decreased upon visible light irradiation, indicating that the dye interacted with Iod/EDB. At the same time, a new absorption peak appeared at 430 nm and its absorbance gradually increased, which indicated that the Ag + cations were reduced into AgNPs [45,46]. In addition, the solution changed from light yellow to yellow-brown during the light irradiation process, and a yellowbrown silver nanoparticle coating was observed on the side of the cuvette.…”

Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles: Synthesis and Application as Antibacterial and Antifungal Agents

“…For instance, for the controlled assembly of silver nanoparticles on a polyimide substrate, the method of convective self-assembly was used, and as a result, homogeneous coatings with high conductivity were obtained, which can be used as electrodes for sensors [46]. Photoinduced self-assembly of silver nanoparticles on a glass substrate allowed obtaining ultrathin AgNPs films, exhibiting high reflective and conductive properties for the use in optics and electronics [47]. A metamaterial based on silver nanoparticles with a thermosensitive coating demonstrated active self-assembly of AgNPs as a result of temperature-dependent changes in the organic coating.…”