Implantation-synthesized Cu/Cu-Zn core/shell nanoparticles in SiO sub(2) and their optical properties

• Published in: Optical materials express Vol. 5; no. 5; pp. 1156 - 1167
• Main Authors: Jia, Guangyi, Dai, Haitao, Mu, Xiaoyu, Guo, Chungang, Liu, Changlong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.05.2015
• Subjects: Copper; Density; Fluence; Formations; Nanoparticles; Nonlinearity; Nucleation; Optical properties
• ISSN: 2159-3930; 2159-3930
• DOI: 10.1364/OME.5.001156

Silica glasses were pre-implanted with 60 keV Zn ions at different fluences of 1 x 10 super(16) and 1 x 10 super(17) cm super(-2), respectively, and were then subjected to implantation of 45 keV Cu ions at a fluence of 5 x 10 super(16) cm super(-2). The formation of metallic nanoparticles (NPs) as well as their optical properties has been studied in details. Our results clearly show that Zn ion preimplantation at a low fluence of 1.0 x 10 super(16) cm super(-2) can give rise to the formation of large Cu NPs with a double-layer arrangement, which contribute a greatly enhanced surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption at about 572 nm. As the Zn ion fluence increases to 1.0 x 10 super(17) cm super(-2), Cu/Cu-Zn core/shell NPs with a high particle density and a narrow size distribution can be obtained, resulting in a strong and broad SPR absorption band around 528 nm. Besides, the dually implanted samples also exhibit excellent third-order nonlinear optical properties comparing with the Cu solely implanted sample. The possible mechanisms for the nucleation and growth of NPs as well as for the enhancements of linear and nonlinear optical properties have been discussed.