Systematic Surface Phase Transition of Ag Thin Films by Iodine Functionalization at Room Temperature: Evolution of Optoelectronic and Texture Properties.

We show a simple room temperature surface functionalization approach using iodine vapour to control a surface phase transition from cubic silver (Ag) of thin films into wurtzite silver-iodid (β-AgI) films. A combination of surface characterization techniques (optical, electronical and structural characterization) reveal distinct physical properties of the new surface phase. We discuss the AgI thin film formation dynamics and related transformation of physical properties by determining the work-function, dielectric constant and pyroelectric behavior together with morphological and structural thin film properties such as layer thickness, grain structure and texture formation.

Optical nano-structuring in light-sensitive AgCl-Ag waveguide thin films: wavelength effect.

Irradiation of photosensitive thin films results in the nanostructures formation in the interaction area. Here, we investigate how the formation of nanostructures in photosensitive waveguide AgCl thin films, doped by Ag nanoparticles, can be customized by tuning the wavelength of the incident beam. We found, silver nanoparticles are pushed towards the interference pattern minima created by the interference of the incident beam with the excited TE-modes of the AgCl-Ag waveguide.

High precision refractometry based on Fresnel diffraction from phase plates.

When a transparent plane-parallel plate is illuminated at a boundary region by a monochromatic parallel beam of light, Fresnel diffraction occurs because of the abrupt change in phase imposed by the finite change in refractive index at the plate boundary. The visibility of the diffraction fringes varies periodically with changes in incident angle. The visibility period depends on the plate thickness and the refractive indices of the plate and the surrounding medium.