Direct-laser writing of striplines on AgCl single crystals

Experiments on a localized and controlled photo-reduction of silver were carried out on a AgCl single crystal that was exposed to a UV-laser light. Basic parameters such as the peak power and the total energy dose were varied. The study showed that for a pulsed-laser beam with a high peak power (>20W) the ablation threshold of the AgCl was exceeded, while at lower peak powers no ablation was detected, only a change in the surface morphology. The degree of silver reduction was monitored using EDS microanalyses of the irradiated trace and the crystal matrix. We showed that the formation of photo-reduced silver aggregates decreases the ablation threshold and that the formation of a continuous silver trace on the AgCl single crystal is possible when the power density of the laser beam is further reduced. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.