• Popok, Vladimir N.
• Hole, D. E.
• Stepanov, Andrei
• Khaibullin, I. B.

Abstract

Al2O3 samples with Cu nanoparticles, synthesised by ion implantation at 40 keV with a dose of 1×1017 ion/cm2 and a current density from 2.5 to 12.5 μA/cm2, were annealed using ten pulses from a KrF excimer laser with a single pulse fluence of 0.3 J/cm2. The copper depth distribution, formation and modification of metal nanoparticles under the ion implantation and laser treatment were studied by Rutherford backscattering (RBS), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and optical spectroscopy. It was found that laser annealing leads to a reduction in the nanoparticle size without diffusion of metal atoms into the bulk. The change in particle size and the possibility for oxidation of the copper particles are examined in the framework of Mie theory. Calculations presented show that under excimer laser treatment, Cu nanoparticles are more likely to be reduced in size than to undergo oxidation.

Topics

• nanoparticle
• density
• theory
• atomic force microscopy
• copper
• annealing
• Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy
• current density
• Rutherford backscattering spectrometry