A strategy for fabrication of controllable 3D pattern containing clusters and nanoparticles inside a solid material

Directly controlling the growth process of clusters and nanoparticles is an effective way to tune their specific properties, which has been considered as a significant issue lying at the heart of nanotechnology. For technological applications, great strides have been made in the assembly of clusters and nanoparticles. However, controllable synthesis of clusters and nanoparticles inside a bulk solid-state medium remains a tremendous challenge, which is important for integrated devices. Here we report a strategy for space-selective control of elemental tellurium (Te) precipitation as clusters or nanoparticles in glass by femtosecond (fs) laser irradiation. After irradiation by a 1 kHz fs laser at 800 nm, Te₂ clusters, which emit near-infrared (NIR) light, are observed at the focal point of the laser beam inside the glass sample. By shifting the repetition rate to 250 kHz, a temperature field forms around the focal area that facilitates transformation of Te clusters into nanoparticles. Raman mapping shows that the clusters are localized in the center of the laser-induced microstructure, while the nanoparticles exhibit an annular distribution. The possible mechanisms of generation and distribution of different species are discussed. We have also demonstrated optical data storage and embedded micro-grating by using this technique.