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Title: Optical absorption by colloidal precipitates in bismuth-implanted fused silica: Annealing behavior

Journal Article · · Journal of Applied Physics
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.359135· OSTI ID:64861
;  [1];  [2]
  1. Materials Science and Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Box 544, GPC, Nashville, Tennessee 37203 (United States)
  2. Surface Modification and Characterization Facility, Solid-State Physics Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, P.O. Box 2008, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6057 (United States)

The near-surface regions of high-purity fused silica disks (Corning 7940) were modified by implantation with Bi{sup 2+} ions at 160 keV and at room temperature. The glasses implanted with a nominal dose of 6{times}10{sup 16} Bi{sup 2+} ions/cm{sup 2} at {similar_to}5 {mu}A/cm{sup 2} were subsequently annealed in oxidizing and inert atmospheres. The annealing temperature ranged from 500 to 1100 {degree}C. The doses retained before and after the anneals were determined from Rutherford backscattering. A broad optical-absorption band at {similar_to}5 eV (248 nm) was resolved and attributed to surface plasmon resonance from colloidal bismuth metal particles precipitated after implantation and observed by transmission electron microscopy. After annealing in oxygen for 60 min at temperatures {ge}1000 {degree}C the bismuth in the sample decreased by {similar_to}70%. Annealing in an oxidizing atmosphere oxidized the metallic precipitates, and oxidation changed the optical absorption of the samples. For samples annealed in argon, a relatively small decrease in retained dose by {similar_to}12% was observed for temperatures {ge}1000 {degree}C. Based on the difference in the effects of annealing in oxygen and in argon, the bismuth atoms in the samples annealed in argon are not oxidized and remain in the particles. The small changes in the distribution of bismuth after annealing in argon are due to diffusion of bismuth atoms from colloidal particles to larger particles, i.e., Ostwald ripening, as well as evaporation from the surface of the fused silica. {copyright} {ital 1995} {ital American} {ital Institute} {ital of} {ital Physics}.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
AC05-84OR21400
OSTI ID:
64861
Journal Information:
Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 77, Issue 12; Other Information: PBD: 15 Jun 1995
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English