Polymer-metal optical nanocomposites with tunable particle plasmon resonance prepared by vapor phase co-deposition

A simple one-step vapor phase co-deposition at elevated target temperature is employed to generate optical nanocomposites (similar to100-300 nm) of polymer-based metallic nanoparticles with uniform size and shape. Homogeneously, three dimensionally distributed isolated Ag nanoparticles are produced with appropriate volume filling (similar to10-30%) in Teflon AF matrix at various co-deposition target temperatures of 120-400 degreesC. An extremely narrow particle size distribution of similar to5-7 nm based on TEM observations is demonstrated. Different ultrathin nanocomposite color filters as a result of plasmon resonance shifting in the UV-VIS wavelength region are also generated. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.