Preparation and optical properties of silicate glasses containing Pd nanoparticles

We report the space selective precipitation of Pd nanoparticles in Pd2+-doped silicate glass by ultrashort laser pulses irradiation and further annealing. Absorption spectra, transmission electron microscopy, refractive index measurement and Z-scan technique demonstrated that metallic Pd nanoparticles were precipitated in the glass sample after irradiation by an 800-nm femtosecond laser and subsequent annealing at 600 °C. We discuss a refractive index change and nonlinear absorption that combines the precipitation of Pd nanoparticles.