Effect of aggregation on the wavelength dependent optical limiting performance of silver nanoparticles in nanofibers and thin films
7 affiliations
- 1Department of Engineering Physics, Faculty of Engineering, Ankara University 06100 Ankara Türkiye
- 2Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Ankara Yildirim Beyazit University 06010 Ankara Türkiye
- 3Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Eskisehir Osmangazi University (ESOGU) 26240 Eskisehir Türkiye
- 4Department of Micro and Nano Technology, Middle East Technical University (METU) 06800 Ankara Türkiye
- 5Nanovatif Materials Technologies, ODTÜ-TEKNOKENT 06800 Ankara Türkiye
- 6Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Middle East Technical University (METU) 06800 Ankara Türkiye
- 7Energy Storage Materials and Devices Research Center (ENDAM), Middle East Technical University (METU) 06800 Ankara Türkiye
Abstract
This study elucidates the role of nanoparticle agglomeration on wavelength dependence of nonlinear absorption and optical limiting by systematically investigating silver nanoparticle based (AgNP) polymer nanocomposites through aggregation-controlled thin films and nanofiber architectures. PMMA/AgNP nanocomposite thin films with dispersed and intentionally aggregated nanoparticle configurations were fabricated to directly examine the role of interparticle plasmonic coupling. Additionally, AgNP incorporated PMMA nanofibers with varying nanoparticle concentrations were employed to investigate nonlinear optical responses under geometrically constrained conditions. Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy revealed pronounced spectral broadening and red-shifting of localized surface plasmon resonance bands in aggregated thin films, indicating strong interparticle coupling. On the other hand, nanofiber systems exhibited increased absorption behavior, which may be partly associated with increased scattering-related contributions arising from the polymer matrix. Open-aperture Z-scan measurements performed under nanosecond (532 and 1064 nm) and femtosecond (800 nm) excitation demonstrated strong nonlinear absorption in all nanocomposite thin films, governed by plasmon-enhanced excited state absorption processes. Furthermore, nanoparticle aggregation markedly enhanced nonlinear absorption by inducing local electromagnetic field amplification within closely coupled clusters, with possible additional contributions from scattering effects. As a result, the optical limiting performance was significantly improved, and the aggregated nanocomposite thin films exhibited an exceptionally low onset optical limiting threshold of 3.54 × 10−4 J cm−2 at 1064 nm. In nanofiber systems, increasing the AgNP concentration led to a higher number of scattering centers, which may contribute to enhanced nonlinear absorption and strengthen the overall nonlinear optical response. Compared to nanocomposite thin film systems, nanofiber architectures suppressed nanoparticle agglomeration, which consequently led to a relatively reduced nonlinear absorption response. These findings reveal that aggregated nanocomposite thin films outperform nanofiber systems via plasmonic coupling-driven field enhancement, highlighting structural design as a key parameter for optimizing nonlinear optical performance.
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BibTeX
@article{unal2026effect,
title = {{Effect of aggregation on the wavelength dependent optical limiting performance of silver nanoparticles in nanofibers and thin films}},
author = {Nur Unal and Yasemin Pepe and Mustafa Altay Karacaoğlu and Serife Akkoyun and Elif Akhuseyin Yildiz and Ahmet Karatay and Sahin Coskun and Hüseyin Utkucan Kayacı and Husnu Emrah Unalan and Ayhan Elmali},
journal = {Nanoscale Advances},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1039/d6na00391e},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1039/d6na00391e},
note = {CC BY-NC 3.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Effect of aggregation on the wavelength dependent optical limiting performance of silver nanoparticles in nanofibers and thin films
AU - Nur Unal
AU - Yasemin Pepe
AU - Mustafa Altay Karacaoğlu
AU - Serife Akkoyun
AU - Elif Akhuseyin Yildiz
AU - Ahmet Karatay
AU - Sahin Coskun
AU - Hüseyin Utkucan Kayacı
AU - Husnu Emrah Unalan
AU - Ayhan Elmali
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/05
JO - Nanoscale Advances
DO - 10.1039/d6na00391e
UR - https://doi.org/10.1039/d6na00391e
AB - This study elucidates the role of nanoparticle agglomeration on wavelength dependence of nonlinear absorption and optical limiting by systematically investigating silver nanoparticle based (AgNP) polymer nanocomposites through aggregation-controlled thin films and nanofiber architectures. PMMA/AgNP nanocomposite thin films with dispersed and intentionally aggregated nanoparticle configurations were fabricated to directly examine the role of interparticle plasmonic coupling. Additionally, AgNP incorporated PMMA nanofibers with varying nanoparticle concentrations were employed to investigate nonlinear optical responses under geometrically constrained conditions. Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy revealed pronounced spectral broadening and red-shifting of localized surface plasmon resonance bands in aggregated thin films, indicating strong interparticle coupling. On the other hand, nanofiber systems exhibited increased absorption behavior, which may be partly associated with increased scattering-related contributions arising from the polymer matrix. Open-aperture Z-scan measurements performed under nanosecond (532 and 1064 nm) and femtosecond (800 nm) excitation demonstrated strong nonlinear absorption in all nanocomposite thin films, governed by plasmon-enhanced excited state absorption processes. Furthermore, nanoparticle aggregation markedly enhanced nonlinear absorption by inducing local electromagnetic field amplification within closely coupled clusters, with possible additional contributions from scattering effects. As a result, the optical limiting performance was significantly improved, and the aggregated nanocomposite thin films exhibited an exceptionally low onset optical limiting threshold of 3.54 × 10−4 J cm−2 at 1064 nm. In nanofiber systems, increasing the AgNP concentration led to a higher number of scattering centers, which may contribute to enhanced nonlinear absorption and strengthen the overall nonlinear optical response. Compared to nanocomposite thin film systems, nanofiber architectures suppressed nanoparticle agglomeration, which consequently led to a relatively reduced nonlinear absorption response. These findings reveal that aggregated nanocomposite thin films outperform nanofiber systems via plasmonic coupling-driven field enhancement, highlighting structural design as a key parameter for optimizing nonlinear optical performance.
SN - 2516-0230
ER -