Authors
Abstract
Thin metal films of Ag (~10 nm) deposited on spin coated PVC film on quartz substrate, were irradiated with 150 keV Ar ions at fluences varying from 5×10 15 to 5×10 16 ions/cm 2 and characterized with Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) techniques. RBS spectra show sputtering of the Ag film. As a result of ion irradiation, isolated Ag nanoparticles are formed on the surface. The size and size distribution of Ag nanoparticles are found to be dependent on ion fluence. Contact angle measurements were carried out to study the hydrophilic nature of the surface at varying fluences. Results are explained in the framework of sputtering from the surface due to dense collision cascade resulting from Ar ion and Ag/PVC film interaction.
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