ASAXS study on the formation of core-shell Ag/Au nanoparticles in glass

Nanosized metal particles of various configurations embedded in surface regions of glass have great potential as nonlinear optical materials for photonic devices. We have prepared Ag/Au nanoparticles in core-shell configuration in soda-lime silicate glass by double-ion implantation and investigated their structural characteristics by anomalous small-angle x-ray scattering (ASAXS) and transmission electron microscopy. Measurements at x-ray energies slightly below the Au L3 edge indicate the formation of bimetallic Ag/Au shells in some of the nanoparticles for high-dose ion implantation. An element-specific analysis of the ASAXS results allowed us not only to validate and quantify the core-shell structure, but simultaneously also the composition of the shells. Hollow nanoparticles were found for an Au-Ag implantation sequence, whereas an Ag-Au sequence generates a diluted core composition. The shift of the maximum position of optical absorption of the samples due to surface plasmon resonance of bimetallic nanoparticles, as monitored by optical spectroscopy, revealed the considerable influence of the respective particle configuration.