Laser-assisted one-step fabrication of homogeneous glass–silver composite

Glass doped with silver ions was fabricated using a dry technique and then irradiated at the scanning speed of 14 mm s−1 using a nanosecond pulsed Nd:YVO4 laser operating at 355 nm. This led to the spatially selective, one-step precipitation of silver particles and fabrication of a homogeneously structured optical composite material: glass–silver composite. The optical and structural properties of such composite material can be designed at will, which could have potential impact on light/plasmon wave and sensing technologies, optoelectronics, and surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy.