EXAFS study on metal cluster doped silica glass obtained by ion implantation procedures

Abstract

Metal-doped glasses were prepared by double ion implantation (Ag+Cu and Au+Cu) in silica glass. X-ray absorption spectroscopy was used to study the different oxidation states of the dopant metals and the possible formation of metal or alloy clusters. We present an investigation on co-implanted silica glass at the Cu K, Ag K and Au L III edges. The local atomic order around each dopant was determined. In particular, no evidence of metal alloying was found. Cu is mainly bound to O atoms of the glass, Ag mainly forms pure metallic clusters and Au is present as small metallic particles and isolated atoms.