SYNTHESIS OF NANOSIZED SILVER PARTICLES IN ION-EXCHANGED GLASS BY ELECTRON-BEAM IRRADIATION

Ag particles of 4.2 nm mean diameter have been formed inside a glass m atrix, doped with silver by ion exchange, by electron beam irradiation of the glass cut into thin slices by ultramicrotomy. By this treatmen t, a high concentration of particles which are homogeneously arranged throughout the glass and exhibit a narrow size distribution is achieve d (volume fraction of particulate silver: 3.5 x 10(-2)). The interface stress reflecting the particle/matrix interaction is comparable to th at of isolated Ag particles. This new route of synthesis will allow to generate materials with strong third order nonlinear susceptibility. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.