Cu and Ag Nanoparticles Films Deposited on Glass Substrate Using Cold Cathode Ion Source

Abstract

Structural, electrical and optical properties of Cu and Ag nanoparticles thin films deposited on glass substrates prepared by sputtering were investigated. Cold cathode ion source used for sputtered of copper and silver targets to deposit nanoparticles thin films on glass substrate using argon gas. X-ray diffraction was used to study the structure and the grain size of thin film which reveals that average grain size is in nano region. Copper nanoparticles was in rang 14 nm and silver nanoparticles size was 20 nm in first peak using Scherrer’s method. The electrical resistivities of copper and silver thin films were also investigated. The thin film resistance Rs of Cu and Ag equals 1.33 and 6.35 Ω respectively. I-V characteristics of thin films were recorded at room temperature and are found to be linear. Optical properties of the synthesized materials are studied by UV–Vis in the wavelength range 200–800 nm. The calculated band gap for the Cu thin film on glass are estimated to be EgCu = 2.18 eV.