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Nanostructured silver thin films deposited by pulsed laser ablation |
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| Authors: | B. Fazio E. Fazio F. Neri P. M. Ossi N. Santo |
| Affiliation: | 1. CNR – Istituto per i Processi Chimico-Fisici sez. Messina, Faro Superiore , Messina, Italy;2. Dipartimento di Fisica della Materia e Tecnologie Fisiche Avanzate , Università di Messina , Messina, Italy;3. Dip. Chimica, Materiali , Ingegneria Chimica “G. Natta” Centre for Nano Engineered Materials and Surfaces—NEMAS Politecnico di Milano Via Ponzio , 34-3, Milano, Italy;4. CIMA , Università degli Studi di Milano , Milano, Italy |
| Abstract: | Nanostructured thin films were deposited by excimer laser ablation of silver targets in controlled atmospheres of He and Ar. The film structural properties were investigated by means of scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope imaging. The film growth mechanism was identified as the result of coalescence of nanometric clusters formed during plume flight. Cluster formation involves plume confinement as a consequence of the increased collisional rate among plasma species. Fast photography imaging of the laser-generated silver plasma allowed to identify plasma confinement, shock wave formation and plasma stopping. |
| Keywords: | pulsed laser deposition electron microscopy plasma-laser |