Plasmonic properties of silver in polymer

In the present research silver nanoparticles were produced by e-beam evaporation of metal on polymer-modified silica substrate at room temperature (20 °C) and elevated temperature (80 °C). Modification of the silica substrate was done by different weight concentration polymer (PMMA/PS) blends formed from the polymer solutions by spin coating. The silver layer thickness varied from 1 nm to 10 nm. Silver nanoparticles in polymer matrix were characterized by XRD, AFM and UV–vis spectrometry. The crystalline silver nanoparticles showed surface plasmon resonance (SPR) with absorption maximum at 420–550 nm that was dependent on the silver layer thickness, PMMA and PS weight concentration in polymer blends and substrate temperature during vacuum deposition. The silver nanoparticles in polymer with selective light properties resulting from the controlled SPR shifting to the UV–vis wavelength region were produced.