Fabrication of metal nanostructures in a polymer matrix using femtosecond laser writing technique

Silver nanostructures were fabricated by laser direct writing technique using 796-nm Ti:Sapphire femtosecond laser pulses in polymer matrix containing silver ions that has been spin coated on a silicon substrate. Silver nanostructures that resulted inside the polymer matrix were obtained by the nonlinear optical interaction between femtosecond laser pulses and polymer films containing silver ions. We report here the characterization of the silver nanostructures using UV-Vis extinction spectra, field emission scanning electron, and atomic force microscope images. Formation of silver nanoparticles inside the laser written microstructures is confirmed by the appearance of surface plasmon absorption band at 448 nm in the UV-Vis extinction spectrum. Nanoparticles formed were spherical in shape with average particle size <20 nm. This technique is a cost-effective approach and has potential applications in the fabrication of fine metallic micro/nanostructures for microelectromechanical systems, nanoelectronics, and nanophotonics. (C) 2014 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE)