Laser microstructuring and scanning microscopy of plasmapolymer-silver composite layers

Laser-induced coalescence of silver nanoparticles embedded in thin plasma polymer films has been used to generate permanent submicrometer structures in the films, which exhibit unusual optical properties. Scanning-electron-microscope images and spatially resolved optical transmission spectra reveal the changes in the nanostructure of the films that are due to the irradiation. The structural modifications result from thermally induced coalescence of the irradiated nanoparticles and are accompanied by significant changes in the optical transmission spectra. A planar micro-optical element has been generated in this way, and its optical properties have been characterized by means of the depth resolution of a confocal microscope.