Synthesis of metal/polymer composite films by implantation of Fe and Ag ions in viscous and solid state silicone substrates

We investigated a process of metal phase synthesis in a polymer by high-dos e implantation of metal ions in silicone substrates at constant current den sity. The samples were obtained by implantation of 40 keV Fe+ and 30 keV Ag + ions in both viscous (at the moment of implantation) and solid state sili cone polymers. The structural and physical properties of the irradiated pol ymers were investigated by TEM, magnetic resonance and absorption UV-VIS sp ectroscopy. The strong influence of the relaxation state of the silicone ta rget on the metal phase growth, morphology and sizes of iron and silver nan ostructures, as well as the magnetic and optical properties of the synthesi zed metal/polymer composite films are shown experimentally. (C) 1999 Elsevi er Science B.V. All rights reserved.