Light luminescence and trapping in polydimethylsiloxane foils with low concentration of gold nanoparticles

Abstract

Light trapping and luminescence have been observed in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) foils containing about 0.1–0.2 wt% gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). The so-prepared PDMSs have been physically characterized using SEM microscopy, UV–Vis, FTIR and Raman spectroscopies. The used AuNPs have been controlled by means of the surface plasmon resonance absorption spectra. In the AuNPs–PDMS foils, a luminescence peak at about 425 nm has been induced by an exciting light at 280 nm. The light injection with an optical fiber is trapped inside the polymer-containing NPs and illuminates all the polymer volume. The measurements of scattered light show an increment in the light intensity due to the presence of AuNPs and air bubbles inducing diffractions, reflections and Mie scattering. Further investigations have been conducted irradiating the PDMS with AuNPs in vacuum with 2.9 MeV proton beams producing luminescence in the blue region. The mechanisms of light trapping and luminescence and the possible applications of the prepared material are presented and discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• PDMS
• AuNPs
• luminescence
• light trapping
• SPR

Acknowledgements

The research has been realized at the CANAM (Center of Accelerators and Nuclear Analytical Methods) infrastructure LM 2015056 and has been supported by project GACR 19-02482S and INFN-Sezione CT (Italy) for the support given to CIMA project. This publication was supported by OP RDE, MEYS, Czech Republic under the project CANAM OP, CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16_013/0001812 and RVO 61389005.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Instituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare.

Notes on contributors

L. Torrisi

L. Torrisi is full professor of Physics at MIFT Department of Messina University, Italy. He is expert of material analysis and nanoparticles generated by laser ablation in liquids.

M. Cutroneo

M. Cutroneo is researcher at the Nuclear Physics Institute of the Academy of Science of the Czech Republic. She is specialist of polymers preparation and ion beam analysis.

L. Silipigni

L. Silipigni is professor at MIFT Department of Messina University. She is specialist of optical spectroscopy and XPS analysis.

B. Fazio

B. Fazio is researcher at CNR-IPCF in Messina, Italy. She is expert of Raman spectroscopy.

G. Di Marco

G. Di Marco is researcher at CNR-IPCF in Messina. He is expert of different optical spectroscopies and of polymer preparation.

P. Slepicka

P. Splepicka is professor at Department of Soli-State Engineering, ICT, Prague, Czech Republic. He is specialist of materials science and microscopy.

D. Fajstavr

D. Fajstavr is professor at Department of Solid-State Engineering, ICT, Prague, Czech Republic. He is specialist of material analysis and electron microscopy.

A. Torrisi

A. Torrisi is researcher at the Physics Department of University of Salento, Italy. He is expert of laser-matter interaction, generation of thin films and nanoparticles and materials science.