title: Microstructural and plasmonic modifications in Ag-TiO2 and Au-TiO2 nanocomposites through ion beam irradiation.
abstract: The development of new fabrication techniques of plasmonic nanocomposites with specific properties is an ongoing issue in the plasmonic and nanophotonics community. In this paper we report detailed investigations on the modifications of the microstructural and plasmonic properties of metal-titania nanocomposite films induced by swift heavy ions. Au-TiO2 and Ag-TiO2 nanocomposite thin films with varying metal volume fractions were deposited by co-sputtering and were subsequently irradiated by 100 MeV Ag(8+) ions at various ion fluences. The morphology of these nanocomposite thin films before and after ion beam irradiation has been investigated in detail by transmission electron microscopy studies, which showed interesting changes in the titania matrix. Additionally, interesting modifications in the plasmonic absorption behavior for both Au-TiO2 and Ag-TiO2 nanocomposites were observed, which have been discussed in terms of ion beam induced growth of nanoparticles and structural modifications in the titania matrix.
authors.affiliation: Chair for Multicomponent Materials, Institute for Materials Science, Christian Albrechts University Kiel, Kaiserstr. 2, Kiel, 24143, Germany.
authors.forename: Venkata Sai Kiran
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Chakravadhanula
authors.affiliation: Functional Nanomaterials, Institute for Materials Science, Christian Albrechts University Kiel, Kaiserstr. 2, Kiel, 24143, Germany.
authors.forename: Yogendra Kumar
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.affiliation: Chair for Multicomponent Materials, Institute for Materials Science, Christian Albrechts University Kiel, Kaiserstr. 2, Kiel, 24143, Germany.
authors.forename: Venkata Girish
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Kotnur
authors.affiliation: Inter University Accelerator Center, Materials Science Group, P.O. Box: 10502, New Delhi, 110067, India.
authors.forename: Devesh Kumar
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Avasthi
authors.affiliation: Chair for Multicomponent Materials, Institute for Materials Science, Christian Albrechts University Kiel, Kaiserstr. 2, Kiel, 24143, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Strunskus
authors.affiliation: Chair for Multicomponent Materials, Institute for Materials Science, Christian Albrechts University Kiel, Kaiserstr. 2, Kiel, 24143, Germany.
authors.forename: Vladimir
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zaporotchenko
authors.affiliation: Instituto da Fisica, Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, Av. San Rafael Atlixco No. 186, Col. Vicentina, Delegacion Iztapalapa, Mexico D.F., 09340, Mexico.
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fink
authors.affiliation: Synthesis and Real Structure, Institute for Materials Science, Christian Albrechts University Kiel, Kaiserstr. 2, Kiel, 24143, Germany.
authors.forename: Lorenz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kienle
authors.affiliation: Chair for Multicomponent Materials, Institute for Materials Science, Christian Albrechts University Kiel, Kaiserstr. 2, Kiel, 24143, Germany.
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Faupel
keywords: noble metal–titania nanocomposite; surface plasmon resonance; swift heavy ions