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Multifractal and optical characterization of silver nanoparticles embedded in carbon films prepared in C2H2 + N2 gas mixtures

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Abstract

Diamond-like carbon (DLC) coatings are mostly known for their excellent mechanical and tribological properties. However, DLC coatings also can be served as coatings with metal impurities which are attractive due to their special structural and electrical properties. In this study, silver nanoparticles are co-deposited on carbon films using RF-sputtering and RF-PECVD methods. Films are made on BK7 substrates under different working pressures (i.e., 17.5–20.5 mTorr). In this regard, according to ISO 25178–2: 2012, 2-3D Ag-DLC thin film surfaces are characterized using the atomic force microscopy method via advanced analysis implicating multifractal and morphological properties. Statistical and Minkowski functions results obtained from AFM data demonstrate that the surface topography of the films is changed by altering the deposition pressure. Based on the deposition pressure, the samples prepared at 20.5 mTorr and 19.5 mTorr have the highest and lowest values of the highest spatial complexity compared to other samples, respectively. The generalized dimension and mass exponent trend reveals the multifractal character of the studied surfaces, which the results of the multifractal study of the films are in good agreement with other AFM statistical data. In addition, with the help of EDS analysis, the presence of carbon, nitrogen, and silver elements is confirmed with different weight percentage. The damping and flattening of the surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peaks in the UV–visible absorption spectrum of the samples can be witnessed at different working pressures, which is evaluated and analyzed by AFM and EDS results.

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    Amir Zelati

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Zelati, A. Multifractal and optical characterization of silver nanoparticles embedded in carbon films prepared in C2H2 + N2 gas mixtures. Eur. Phys. J. Plus 137, 1084 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1140/epjp/s13360-022-03307-0

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