Optical characterization of ion implanted carbon thin films for energy application
Date
2020
Authors
Ismaila, Abdulsalam
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Abstract
This work involves the preparation of amorphous carbon-based active nanocomposites with good antireflectance property, ability to support the generation of charge carriers and potentials for intermediate band application.
Amorphous carbon thin films , Hebrew University Jerusalem, The Ag a C nanocomposites were characterized for microstructural and morphological properties via
Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy , atomic force microscopy and energy dispersive xray spectroscopy .
All samples exhibit Raman fingerprints typical of carbon with G and D peaks shifts, broadening as well as intensity variations that were found to depend on the fluence of irradiation.
A relative increase in structural disorder, sp two cluster aggregation and cluster size attenuation were recorded due to increasing fluence of irradiation. SEM analysis revealed agglomerated Ag particles in sphere like shapes
with average particle diameters in the range five nm to twenty nm respectively. TEM micrographs depicted many silver rich micro grains in the non-reactive phase of the Ag a C nanocomposites for all samples and emerging
silver oxide phase at higher fluence due to tarnishing.
Description
A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, 2020