Archive | 2019
Metal Nanoparticles Dispersed in Epoxy Resin: Synthesis, Optical Properties and Applications
Abstract
Tuning, splitting and broadening of the surface plasmon resonance as well as infrared polarization and forward scattering are interesting optical properties coming from metal nanoparticles dispersed in epoxy resin systems. The plasmonic properties are strongly influenced by the metal, viscosity of the resin, solvent, curing and stabilizing agent, filling factor, size, shape and aggregated states of the metal nanoparticles. Specifically, tuning can be achieved by controlling the size and shape of the spherical nanoparticles. Splitting and broadening of the surface plasmon is caused by elongated nanoparticles and their aggregated states, respectively. Metal nanowires aligned in the same direction exhibit infrared polarization, whereas forward scattering is achieved by nucleated particles above 30 nm. The metal nanoparticles can be prepared by thermal vacuum deposition, ion implantation, solvothermal, photochemical, and chemical reduction synthesis. Furthermore, the metal nanoparticles dispersed in epoxy resin/curing agent can be used to prepare a variety of materials such as molded bulk pieces, paints and coatings deposited on dielectric, metallic or semiconductor substrates. Nowadays, the study of the optical properties of metal nanostructures dispersed in epoxy resin systems has generated strong interest due to many potential applications including plasmonic photothermal conversion, light trapping, optical modulation, imaging, surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy and sensing.