The Role of Substrate on Thermal Evolution of Ag/TiO₂ Nanogranular Thin Films.

ABSTRACT: In multicomponent thin films, properties and functionalities related to post-deposition annealing treatments, such as thermal stability, optical absorption and surface morphology are typically rationalized, neglecting the role of the substrate. Here, we show the role of the substrate in determining the temperature dependent behaviour of a paradigmatic two-component nanogranular thin film (Ag/TiO₂) deposited by gas phase supersonic cluster beam deposition (SCBD) on silica and sapphire. Up to 600 °C, no TiO₂ grain growth nor crystallization is observed, likely inhibited by the Zener pinning pressure exerted by the Ag nanoparticles on the TiO₂ grain boundaries. Above 600 °C, grain coalescence, formation of However, the two substrates steer the evolution of the

SUBMITTER: Balzano V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8471301 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature