Tailoring the Shape, Size and Orientation of Metal Nanocrystals via Swift Heavy Ion Irradiation

The development of a patentable technology to controllably modify the shape, size and orientation of metal nanocrystals in a dielectric matrix is proposed. Swift heavy ion irradiation will be used to induce a spherical-to-rod-like shape transformation with the resulting nanorods aligned along the incident ion-beam direction. We first seek to identify and understand the scientific processes governing the transformation by combining experiment (using synchrotron-radiation-based techniques) with simulation (using molecular-dynamics methods). Subsequent optical measurements will assess the applicability of oriented metal nanorods formed with this technology for advanced devices including optical filters and resonant optical antennas.