U.S.-Bulgarian Cooperative Research: Laser Assisted Modification of Nanocomposite Thin Films

这是一个美国和保加利亚的合作研究项目，将调查以受控和可重复的方式获得和修改包含各种金属纳米团簇的薄电介质薄膜的可能性，这些金属纳米团簇具有均匀的窄团簇尺寸分布，使用磁控共溅射。主要研究人员是佛罗里达新学院的玛丽安娜·森多娃博士和保加利亚太阳能中心实验室的马鲁什卡·森多娃-瓦西列娃博士。这项研究的目的是利用现有的溅射和脉冲激光在不同的介电基质中生长金属纳米团簇。这种纳米复合材料具有有趣的光学和电光性质，这将在不同类型的光学器件中具有潜在的应用前景。这项研究结合了磁控共溅射和激光辅助薄膜改性的优点，将为纳米材料和纳米技术的快速发展提供新的实验数据。这个数学研究项目实现了将美国和中东欧的顶尖专家聚集在一起，在平等、互惠和互利的基础上，在共同利益和能力强的领域结合互补努力和能力的计划目标。

This is a U.S.-Bulgarian cooperative research project that will investigate the possibilities of obtaining and modifying, in a controlled and reproducible way, thin dielectric films containing various metal nanoclusters with a homogeneous narrow cluster size distribution using magnetron co-sputtering. The principal investigators are Dr. Mariana Sendova from the New College of Florida and Dr. Marushka Sendova-Vassileva from the Central Laboratory for Solar Energy in Bulgaria. The objective of this research is to grow metal nano-clusters in various dielectric matrices using existing sputtering and a pulsed laser. Such nanocomposites have interesting optical and electro-optical properties which will have potential in different types of optical devices. This research will contribute new experimental data to the rapidly developing area of nanomaterials and nanotechnology as it combines the advantages of magnetron co-sputtering together with those of laser-assisted modification of thin films. This project in mathematics research fulfills the program objectives of bringing together leading experts in the U.S. and Central/Eastern Europe to combine complementary efforts and capabilities in areas of strong mutual interest and competence on the basis of equality, reciprocity, and mutuality of benefit.