Formation of metal particle nanowires induced by ultrashort laser pulses

Abstract

We report a simple method to generate metallic nanowire arrays. By irradiating thin organic films with embedded silver or gold nanoparticles with series of ultrashort laser pulses, wire arrays containing more than 30 nearly parallel wires several microns in length are formed. The individual nanowires are between 100 and 200 nm wide with equal line space ratios, significantly smaller than the laser wavelength used. The wire direction correlates to the linear polarization of the laser pulses. This structural dependence on the laser polarization is mirrored in corresponding anisotropic optical and electrical film properties.