Fine optical structuring in glass with embedded elliptical silver nanoparticles using dc electric field

Using the electric field assisted dissolution (EFAD) technique, embedded micron and submicron lines of metallic structures are constructed in a nanocomposite glass containing elliptical silver nanoparticles. The originally spherical Ag nanoparticles are then transformed into uniformly orientated ellipsoidal ones via a macroscopically thermomechanical deformation process. The thickness of the nanoparticles containing layer in the final sample was ∼1 m. In this form the samples exhibited a strong dichroitic optical extinction, which makes these materials well suitable as polarizers.