Patent ID: 8822228
Filing Date: 2014-09-02
Classification: B22F,B82Y

Abstract:
1. A method of fabricating a cracked surface that includes a plurality of nanoparticles having a cross-sectional diameter from about 60 nm to about 150 nm and a thin silver film layer less than the height of the nanoparticles positioned between the nanoparticles, the method comprising: providing a substrate; depositing a 12 nm to about 17 nm continuous layer of silver on the substrate to form a just continuous silver film coating the substrate; heating the silver film and substrate to a temperature of from about 170° C. to about 230° C. under anaerobic conditions for about 0.5 to 2.5 hours to provide crackage in the silver film thereby forming annealed nanoparticles having a cross-sectional diameter from about 60 nm to about 150 nm and a thin silver film layer remaining between the nanoparticles having a thickness less than the unannealed deposited layer of silver, wherein the annealed nanoparticles provide for increased metal enhanced fluorescence relative to an unannealed film.