Formation of Nanoparticles and Plasmonic Structures in Porous Materials Using Laser and SCF Technologies

Abstract—A review of the authors’ studies on the processes of metal nanoparticles (silver and gold) formation and of various type structures in polymer and porous materials based on the effects of self-assembly and self-organization in the continuous laser radiation field is presented. Most experiments were performed either with samples saturated with metal precursors in supercritical carbon dioxide or with those exposed to this medium. Structures of various types from metal nanoparticles in polymers and porous glasses: periodic structures of micron and submicron scale, layered structures from nanoparticles with an unusually short period (about 90 nm), filament, ring structures, and island nanoparticle films have been synthesized. Several regularities and mechanisms of the formation of both the nanoparticles and their structures depending on the wavelength of laser radiation have been established. New results on the method for producing composite porous foam materials based on silver nanoparticles and polymer matrices, which combines laser-induced “drawing” of porous structures, their impregnation with precursor molecules using supercritical fluid technology, and subsequent reduction of nanoparticles are presented.