FORMATION AND OPTICAL-PROPERTIES OF METAL NANOCLUSTERS FORMED BY SEQUENTIAL IMPLANTATION OF CD AND AG IN SILICA

Nanometer dimension metal colloids fabricated by sequential implantati on of Cd then Ag in silica and by single element implantations of the same elements are characterized by transmission electron microscopy an d optical spectroscopy, A nominal dose of 6 x 10(16) ions/cm(2) as det ermined by current integration was used far both ions species. The dos es used for the sequential implantations were a 1 to 1 ratio of Cd to Ag. Sequential implantation of Cd and Ag leads to the formation of mul ti-component metal nanoclusters and elemental. nanoclusters, The elect ron diffraction measurements were consistent with the formation of Ag5 Cd8 and elemental Ag. With annealing the composition of the nanocluste rs shifts to AgCd and elemental Cd, The optical responses are consiste nt with results expected from effective medium theory.