Ion-beam-assisted deposition of metal nanocluster thin films with nonlinear optical properties
- Naval Research Lab., Washington, DC (United States)
Metal nanocluster thin films ({approximately} 200 nm thickness) consisting of noble metal (Au) clusters (5--30 nm) in an active metal oxide (Nb{sub 2}O{sub 5}) matrix were deposited by evaporation or ion beam assisted deposition (IBAD). In some cases the films were given a post-deposition anneal. The microstructure of the films was examined by plan view and cross sectional transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The size of the metal nanoclusters was found to depend upon the temperature of the post-deposition anneal as well as the conditions of ion bombardment. Ion bombardment was found to stabilize smaller size particles. The linear optical properties of the films, as measured by VIS/UV spectroscopy, show particle size-dependent surface plasmon resonance effects. The nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of the nanoclusters in oxidized niobium were probed experimentally using degenerate four wave mixing (DFWM) and nonlinear transmission (NLT). The DFWM measurements yielded signals that showed strong evidence of saturation and give large values of {vert_bar}{chi}{sup (3)}{sub xxxx}{vert_bar}. NLT measurements demonstrated that the nonlinear absorption coefficient and, hence, I{sub m}{chi}{sup (3)}{sub xxxx} was negative. Time resolved DFWM measurements exhibited dynamics that decayed on a several picosecond time scale. The magnitude and the picosecond dynamics of the NLO response were compared to those observed in gold nanoclusters formed by ion implantation in other media. The advantages of the IBAD method for fabricating third order NLO films include the ability to deposit films of arbitrary active region thickness and, more importantly, high cluster densities.
- OSTI ID:
- 477412
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-951155-; ISBN 1-55899-299-5; TRN: IM9724%%289
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Fall meeting of the Materials Research Society (MRS), Boston, MA (United States), 27 Nov - 1 Dec 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1996; Related Information: Is Part Of Ion-solid interactions for materials modification and processing; Poker, D.B. [ed.] [Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)]; Ila, D. [ed.] [Alabama A and M Univ., Normal, AL (United States)]; Cheng, Y.T. [ed.] [General Motors Corp., Warren, MI (United States)]; Harriott, L.R. [ed.] [AT and T Bell Labs., Murray Hill, NJ (United States)]; Sigmon, T.W. [ed.] [Arizona State Univ., Tempe, AZ (United States)]; PB: 923 p.; Materials Research Society symposium proceedings, Volume 396
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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