Synthesis and characterization of composite films of silver nanoparticles embedded in DLC matrix prepared by plasma CVD technique

¹ Department of Instrumentation Science, USIC Building, Jadavpur University, Calcutta 700 032, India
² Department of Physics, IIT- Delhi, Hauz Khas, New Delhi 110016, India

Corresponding author: msakp2002@yahoo.co.in

Received: 24 October 2008
Revised: 6 March 2009
Accepted: 8 March 2009
Published online: 20 May 2009

Abstract

Composite films containing silver nanoparticles embedded in diamond-like carbon (DLC) matrix were deposited on glass substrates by using capacitatively coupled plasma (CCP) chemical vapour deposition techninique (CVD). Particle size and metal volume fraction were tailored by varying the relative amount of methane of a gas mixture of methane + argon in the plasma. Optical constants of the films were evaluated. Bonding environment in these films were obtained from Raman and FTIR studies. Blue-shift of the surface plasmon resonance peak in the optical absorbance spectra of the films could be associated with the reduction of the particle size while red shift was associated with the increase in volume fraction of metal particles. The experimental results have been discussed in light of the existing Mie theory.