Plasmonic nanowires embedded in electrospun PVA nanofibers

Abstract

Electrospinning is a nanofiber fabrication technique with various applications in diverse fields. Especially interesting is the possibility of fabricating composite structures containing noble metal nanoparticles, which are known for their excellent plasmonic properties. In this paper we explore the optimal conditions for embedding Ag nanowires (100±40 nm in diameter and 0.5-100 μm in length) in electrospun PVA fibers. The thus fabricated nanofibers are analyzed using optical and scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. This highly symmetric system is very suitable for studying the plasmonic properties of silver nanowires both theoretically and experimentally.