Application of ion implantation for synthesis of copper nanoparticles in a zinc oxide matrix for obtaining new nonlinear optical materials

Abstract

We have obtained a layered composite material by implantation of single crystal zinc oxide (ZnO) substrates with 160-keV Cu+ ions to a dose of 1016 or 1017 cm−2. The composite was studied by linear optical absorption spectroscopy; the nonlinear optical characteristics were determined by means of Z-scanning at a laser radiation wavelength of 532 nm. The appearance of the optical plasmon resonance bands in the spectra indicated that ion implantation to the higher dose provides for the formation of copper nanoparticles in a subsurface layer of ZnO. The new nonlinear optical material comprising metal nanoparticles in a ZnO matrix exhibits the phenomenon of self-defocusing and possesses a high nonlinear absorption coefficient (β=2.07×10−3 cm/W).