Formation and optical absorption property of nanometer metallic colloids in Zn and Ag dually implanted silica: Synthesis of the modified Ag nanoparticles

Abstract

Nanometer metallic colloids in silica glasses were fabricated by dual implantation of Zn and Ag ions in different implantation sequences. In the case of Zn ions followed by Ag ions, Ag nanoparticles (NPs) were formed, which had small size, narrow size distribution and high volume fraction, as well as modified dielectric environment. As a result, the Zn first and then Ag implanted samples presented an intense absorption peak around 435 nm, which was much stronger than that at about 406 nm detected in the Ag singly implanted specimen at the same Ag ion fluence. Variation of Zn ion fluence only gave rise to slight change of the absorption signal. In contrast, a dual implantation of Ag first and then Zn ions resulted in formation of Ag, Zn, and Ag–Zn alloy NPs, consequently inducing a weak and broad absorption band lying between those related to monometallic Ag and Zn NPs. The underlying mechanisms for the above findings were discussed. Especially, an enhanced deposition process of Ag implants caused by the prior Zn implantation was proposed.