Metal clusters and nanoparticles in dielectric matrices: Formation and optical properties

The optical properties of thin dielectric films with metal inclusions and their dependence on thermal and laser annealing are studied experimentally. Metal clusters (Ag, Au, and Cu) in dielectric materials (Al₂O₃ and SiO₂) are obtained by simultaneous vacuum deposition of metal and dielectric on the surface of a corresponding dielectric substrate (sapphire and quartz). It is shown that, depending on the deposited dielectric material, on the weight ratio of deposited metal and dielectric, and on the subsequent thermal treatment, one can obtain different metal structures, from clusters with a small number of atoms to complex dendritic plasmonic structures.