Formation of silver nanoclusters by excimer-laser interaction in silver-exchanged soda-lime glass

High-power excimer-laser irradiation (248 nm wavelength) at different energ y densities (1.3, 2.3, and 4.6 J/cm(2)) has been performed on silver-exchan ged soda-lime glass. Silver nanoclusters have been obtained with average si ze depending on the energy density of the laser pulses. The excimer laser p ulses induce either the reduction of the silver ions or the heating of the irradiated glass matrix. The high mobility of silver atoms in the liquid ph ase and the segregation effects at the liquid-solid interface can explain t he observed silver atoms clustering. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics .