Uniformly oriented, ellipsoidal nanovoids in glass created by electric-field-assisted dissolution of metallic nanoparticles

Abstract

Nanoporous glass containing spherical or ellipsoidal nanovoids, respectively, has been produced by electric-field-assisted dissolution of Ag nanoparticles embedded in glass-metal nanocomposites. Small angle x-ray scattering before and after particle dissolution gives evidence that in the case of spherical nanoparticles the remaining nanovoids have the same size distribution ($\ensuremath{\approx}20\text{ }\text{nm}$ average diameter) as the original silver particles. Spheroidal particles of uniform orientation leave strongly aspherical nanovoids, which undergo a slight shape relaxation from aspect ratio 4.7 (particles) to 3.8 (holes).