Synthesis and Spectroellipsometric Characterization of Y 2 O 3 -stabilized ZrO 2 -Au Nanocomposite Films for Smart Senso
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Synthesis and Spectroellipsometric Characterization of Y2O3-stabilized ZrO2-Au Nanocomposite Films for Smart Sensor Applications George Sirinakis, Richard Sun1, Rezina Siddique, Harry Efstathiadis, Michael A. Carpenter, and Alain E. Kaloyeros College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering, The University at Albany-State University of New York, Albany, NY 12203, USA 1 Sun International Inc, Acton, MA 01720, USA ABSTRACT Noble metal nanoparticles exhibit significant potential in all-optical, smart-sensing applications due to their unique optical properties. In particular, gold (Au) nanoparticles exhibit a strong surface plasmon resonance (SPR) band, the spectral position and shape of which depends on the size, shape, and density of the nanoparticles and the physical and chemical properties of surrounding environment. Embedding the nanoparticles in an yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) matrix is believed to expand their range of operation to temperatures above 500 °C. YSZ is a material that has been proven suitable for optical applications due to its high refractive index, low absorption coefficient and high transparency in the visible and infrared regions. Thus, its use as a base platform for nanocomposite thin films is expected to provide significant benefits in the development of harsh environment multifunctional sensors. In this work YSZ-Au nanocomposite films were synthesized from a YSZ and a Au target by the radio frequency magnetron co-sputtering technique in combination with a post-deposition annealing treatment in an argon atmosphere, with the annealing temperature being varied from 500-1000 °C in steps of 100 °C. The microstructure and the optical properties of the resulting films were characterized by x-ray diffraction spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry. Results on the effect of the Au particle size on the real and the imaginary part of the refractive index of the nanostructured composites are presented. Future smart sensor systems utilizing these multifunctional material sets for harsh environment sensing applications will likewise be outlined. INTRODUCTION Growing environmental concerns associated with fossil-fuel related emissions of green house gases have necessitated a tighter control over the various combustion processes for energy generation. Likewise, these concerns have led to the development of a new approach to energy generation which is based on the synergistic operation of existing and developing technologies such as turbines and solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). In this respect there is an urgent need for smart sensor systems for the detection of H2 and other exhaust gases such as CO that can reliably operate under aggressive environments. Au nanoparticles embedded in various oxide matrices have attracted significant interest as all-optical chemical gas sensors due to their unique optical properties [1]. Most of the experimental work on investigating the optical properties of Au nanocomposites has been focused on the behavior of the extinction coeffici
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