Abstract
Nanocomposite systems and nanoparticle (NP) films are crucial for many applications and research fields. The structure-properties correlation raises complex questions due to the collective structure of these systems, often granular and porous, a crucial factor impacting their effectiveness and performance. In this framework, we investigate the optical and morphological properties of Ag nanoparticles (NPs) films and of Ag NPs/TiO2porous matrix films, one-step grown by supersonic cluster beam deposition. Morphology and structure of the Ag NPs film and of the Ag/TiO2(Ag/Ti 50-50) nanocomposite are related to the optical properties of the film employing spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE). We employ a simple Bruggeman effective medium approximation model, corrected by finite size effects of the nano-objects in the film structure to gather information on the structure and morphology of the nanocomposites, in particular porosity and average NPs size for the Ag/TiO2NP film. Our results suggest that SE is a simple, quick and effective method to measure porosity of nanoscale films and systems, where standard methods for measuring pore sizes might not be applicable.
Lingua originale | English |
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pagine (da-a) | 442-456 |
Numero di pagine | 15 |
Rivista | Nanomaterials |
DOI | |
Stato di pubblicazione | Pubblicato - 2017 |
Keywords
- AFM
- Chemical Engineering (all)
- HAADF-STEM
- Materials Science (all)
- Metal and metal/oxide nanoparticles
- Porosity
- Spectroscopic ellipsometry
- Supersonic cluster beam deposition