Abstract

Composites formed by embedding nanoclusters in metal, semiconductor and insulator matrices exhibit unique mechanical, optical, electrical and magnetic properties that can be tailored by varying the clusters size. Such nanoclusters have potential applications in optoelectronics, biology, and green technology like solar cells. Nanoclusters are embedded in materials employing techniques such as ion implantations, RF cosputtering, thermal decompositions of thin grown layers, sol-gel, ion beam mixing, annealing of ion-exchanged glasses. However, they lack 3D capabilities. Laser irradiation is known to alter the optical properties of materials and has also been employed to induce nanoclusters in dielectric materials. However, in almost all cases light interacted with matrices rich with specific atomic species leading to their precipitation into nanoclusters after post baking [1, 2]. Although the mechanism of cluster formation by laser still remain unclear it is widely accepted that bond breaking occurs due to light-matter interaction resulting in formation of radicals that are active and act as cluster centres [3].The contribution of our study is to utilize femtosecond laser for enabling spatial control of nanocluster formation in 3D.

© 2015 IEEE