Plasmon resonance in CVD graphene-silver nanoparticle composites

Investigation results on the morphology and optical properties of polymer-graphene composites with silver nanoparticles deposited by pulsed laser ablation are presented. Graphene was obtained by the CVD method and transferred to PET/EVA polymer through thermal pressing. It has been established that with an increase in the thickness of deposited silver film, a transition from bimodal distribution of particles to formation of elongated rectangular nanostructures is observed. A similar phenomenon can be explained by accumulation of deposited silver particles along the boundaries of adjacent graphene crystallites. It is experimentally shown that the degree of plasmon absorption depends strongly on the mass-average thickness of the deposited metal coating and size of nanoparticles. Deepening of the peak of plasmon absorption simultaneously with a general decrease in sample transparency occurs when the film thickness is changed up to 6 nm. A further increase in thickness does not affect the intensity of plasmon absorption and scattering, but leads to a general decrease in transparency of the polymer-graphene-silver composite. It is shown that the highest degree of radiation attenuation is in the wavelength range from 400 to 600 nm.