WAVELENGTH TUNABILITY OF THE SURFACE-PLASMON RESONANCE OF NANOSIZE METAL COLLOIDS IN GLASS

It is demonstrated that the wavelength of the surface plasmon resonance of nanosize metal colloids embedded in silica can be changed by the alloying of metal ions using sequential implantation of different metal elements. Cu and Ag ions were sequentially implanted in silica to doses of 6 and 12 x 10(16) ions/cm2. Both Ag- and Cu-rich metal alloy colloids approximately 20 nm in diameter were formed in the silica matrix. The position of the surface plasmon resonance frequency was shifted to a frequency that depends on the elements implanted and their relative concentrations. These results have implications for the tunability of non-linear optical waveguide devices and switches.