NANOMETRIC METALLIC PARTICLES IN INSULATING MATERIALS - BI-SIOX

Low Energy Cluster Beam Deposition (LECBD) has been used to synthesize cermets with controlled size nanoparticle. In the Bi-SiOx system, thi s technique allows the formation of Bi nanograins uniformaly distribut ed in the SiOx insulating matrix. The size of the Bi nanograins (mean diameter about 4 nm) may be responsible of a surprising optical proper ty of the LECBD Bi-SiOx cermets. The difference between theoretical an d experimental optical behavior of LECBD cermets is assumed to be a cl ue of size effects inducing a metal-semiconductor transition.