title: Flexible ureasil hybrids with tailored optical properties through doping with metal nanoparticles.
abstract: Hybrid organic-inorganic nanocomposites containing uniform distributions of metal nanoparticles have been prepared by mixing a preformed nanoparticle colloid with the precursors of a ureasil, prior to the sol-gel transition. These nanocomposites possess not only high optical quality and optical features dictated by the size and shape of the nanoparticle dopants but also a high degree of flexibility, which can largely enhance the range of applications in practical devices. The deposition of a uniform silica shell on the nanoparticle surface prior to the sol-gel transition was found to be required to maintain the colloidal stability during the process and, thus, to retain the optical properties in the final nanocomposite material. This method can be readily extended to other materials, such as semiconductor and magnetic nanoparticles.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química Física, Universidade de Vigo, 36310, Vigo, Spain, and Departamento de Química, Universidade do Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Victor I
authors.initials: VI
authors.lastname: Boev
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pérez-Juste
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pastoriza-Santos
authors.forename: Carlos J R
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: M de Jesus M
authors.initials: Mde J
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: Luis M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Liz-Marzán