Gold nanocluster composite glasses were prepared by the evaporation of a thin Au layer, followed by microwave-assisted diffusion. Increased diffusion using a microwave oven, rather than traditional diffusion in a muffle furnace, was observed. The influence of the diffusion temperature and time upon the diffusion depth and surface plasmon resonance absorption bands of the Au nanoclusters thus obtained was studied. The diffusion parameters were shown to influence the size of the metal nanoclusters, and hence the position of the surface plasmon resonance absorption bands.

Microwave Assisted Diffusion of Au-Nanoclusters in Vitreous Silica. Y.Menke, D.Chiaretta, D.Milanese, M.Ferraris: Journal of Non-Crystalline Solids, 2006, 352[23-25], 2526-31