Laser-induced changes in silver metal nanoparticles incorporated in viscous media

The effect of laser pulse irradiation on silver metal nanoparticles in ethylene glycol and glycerol is studied and compared with the parallel processes in aqueous solutions. The influence of 355 nm laser pulse irradiation at the surface plasmon frequency and on the size of the silver nanoparticles is examined by UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy and by transmission electron microscopy. It appears that viscosity of the medium plays a crucial role for the stabilization of the melted particles in the absence of the stabilizer. In ethylene glycol containing PVP, fragmentation of particles was observed. In neat glycerol, similar excitation led to morphological changes as the nanoparticles fused to produce particles of larger size. The changes in reduction of shape and size are considered to occur through melting and vaporization of the silver nanoparticles.