Creating metallic films by laser irradiation of silver ion exchanged glasses

Making silver ion-doped glass by field-assisted ion exchange had so far two major applications: the production of optical waveguides, which utilises the change of refractive index, and the generation of silver nanoparticles due to annealing at higher temperatures. Some groups replaced the annealing step by laser irradiation, which resulted in low concentration of silver nanoparticles inside the glass. By producing a glass with a high content of silver ions and reducing agents, and irradiating it with intense ns-pulsed laser we managed to produce a metallic silver film on the surface of the glass. This high concentration could be suitable for several applications: plasmonic waveguides, sensing technology, surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy, and circuitry.