Swift heavy ion irradiation acts as a size filter to Ag nanoparticles embedded in silica glass

The swift heavy ion (SHI) irradiation using as a tool for the ion-beam-shaping technique has attracted much attention in recently years, which can transform spherical metal nanoparticles (Nps) to prolate spheroids, nanorods or nanowires, with the elongation along the beam direction. In the present paper, we show that SHI irradiation can also act as a size filter to Ag Nps embedded in silica glass. In experiment, Ag Nps were introduced into silica glass by Ag ion implantation. Subsequently, 73 MeV Ca ions were used to irradiate the samples contained Ag Nps to different fluences. The direction of incident ions is perpendicular to sample surface. The surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorbance peak of Ag Nps shifts to short wavelength with increase of irradiation fluence, meanwhile, the full width at half maximum (FWHM) of SPR peak decreases with increase of irradiation fluence. The decrease of FWHM indicates the reduction of Ag Nps size dispersion. TEM results show that Ag Nps smaller than 2.0 nm dissolve during irradiation, only Ag Nps larger than 2.0 nm survive and distribute in a narrow region. High energy Ca ion irradiation seems to act as a size filter. From TEM micrographs the size dispersion of Ag Nps is reduced comparing with that before irradiation, which is consistent with optical results.