Heat treatment impact on molecular structure of polymer-based silver containing coatings deposited from the active gas phase

•The plasmon absorption in the polymer silver coatings depends on the nature of polymer.•Heating of thin layer AgNO3 accompanied by the formation of metal nanoparticles.•Dispersion of PMMA and AgCl is accompanied by the formation of nanoparticles Ag.

The features of chemical composition and molecular structure of polymer silver containing coatings and their changes under the heating were studied. The coatings have been deposited from the gas phase formed by electron-beam dispersion of polymer and silver salt mixture. The impact of polymer matrix and silver salt nature on the parameters of surface plasmon effect occurrence, as well as on the molecular structure of the coatings has been established.