Rapid in situ synthesis of silver nanoparticles on the distal facet of a fiber by laser-induced photo-reduction

We explore a novel and rapid route for fabricating silver nanoparticles on the distal facet of an optical fiber. The reduction of neutral silver particles relies on the reaction between silver ions and organic free radicals initiated by the photolysis of photoinitiators. A similar approach has been extended to the fabrication of a silver nanoparticle array at the extremity of a fiber bundle. The size and number of silver nanoparticles can be tuned by controlling the laser exposure doses. The results of the synthesis can be envisaged via in situ measurement of their optical transmission rate after the photosynthesis process.