Optical anisotropy and columnar structure of obliquely deposited thin films containing fine metal particles ag]

Anisotropic optical properties and nanostructures of thin films prepared by oblique co-deposition of Ag and SiO₂ were studied. At low concentrations of Ag, a columnar structure grew towards the direction of the incident SiO₂ vapor and small Ag particles were embedded in that structure. An inhomogeneous distribution of Ag was observed in cases where the Ag was deposited from the opposite side of the surface normal to the direction of the incident SiO₂ vapor. This inhomogeneous distribution of Ag particles gives rise to optical anisotropy, i.e., the optical transmittance of p-polarized light varies drastically depending on the angle of incidence, while that of s-polarized light remains unchanged. A possible application of the anisotropic optical absorption properties of Ag---SiO₂ hybrid films is in the manufactur of an inorganic thin film polarizer.