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Our work in collaboration with George Fytas Group has just been published by Physical Review Materials. Metal-polymer nanocomposites are hybrid materials combining the superior plasmonic, electrical, and thermal properties of metals with the good elasticity and manufacturability of polymers. This renders metal-polymer nanocomposites promising candidates for conductive filler and coating applications, where mechanical properties are optothermally coupled. Here, we study the interplay of nanostructure, thermoplasmonics, and elastic mechanical properties of silver-polystyrene nanocomposites (AgPS) by transmission electron microscopy, small-angle x-ray scattering, Brillouin light scattering (BLS), and other supplemental techniques. Overall, this work demonstrates the combined effects of composition and (reversible) aggregation on the mechanical and thermoplasmonic properties of metal-polymer nanocomposites. It not only deepens our understanding of the interaction between light, temperature, and mechanical properties in metal-polymer nanocomposites but also provides a guide for customizing AgPS nanocomposites for potential applications.

Full details can be found in DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevMaterials.2.123605