Hazy Al₂O₃-FTO Nanocomposites: A Comparative Study with FTO-Based Nanocomposites Integrating ZnO and S:TiO₂ Nanostructures.

In this study, we report the use of Al₂O₃ nanoparticles in combination with fluorine doped tin oxide (F:SnO₂, aka FTO) thin films to form hazy Al₂O₃-FTO nanocomposites. In comparison to previously reported FTO-based nanocomposites integrating ZnO and sulfur doped TiO₂ (S:TiO₂) nanoparticles (i.e.

Three-Dimensional Self-Organization in Nanocomposite Layered Systems by Ultrafast Laser Pulses.

Controlling plasmonic systems with nanometer resolution in transparent films and their colors over large nonplanar areas is a key issue for spreading their use in various industrial fields. Using light to direct self-organization mechanisms provides high-speed and flexible processes to meet this challenge. Here, we describe a route for the laser-induced self-organization of metallic nanostructures in 3D.

HAADF-STEM characterization and simulation of nanoparticle distributions in an inhomogeneous matrix.

Measuring with a high accuracy the size distribution of small metallic nanoparticles loaded in a mesoporous metal oxide matrix is of particular interest for many studies related to new generations of interesting metamaterials. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is a powerful tool to determine the nature and morphology of very small particles, but their reliable and automatic identification in an inhomogeneous environment where the nanoparticle/background contrast locally varies is not straightforward. Here, we present how a quantitative analysis of high-angle annular dark field scanning TEM (HAADF STEM) images, accounting for the chemical sensitivity of the technique, can improve the accuracy of semiautomatic segmentation methods based on morphological processing to calculate size histograms.

Laser induced mechanisms controlling the size distribution of metallic nanoparticles.

This paper describes a model to simulate changes in the size distribution of metallic nanoparticles (NPs) in TiO2 films upon continuous wave light excitation. Interrelated laser induced physical and chemical processes initiated directly by photon absorption or by plasmon induced thermal heating are considered. Namely the model takes into account the NP coalescence, Ostwald ripening, the reduction of silver ions and the oxidation of metallic NPs, competitive mechanisms that can lead to counter-intuitive behaviors depending on the exposure conditions.

Angular and polarization properties of cross-holes nanostructured metallic filters.

It has been shown in literature that cross-shaped holes arrays can be made insensitive to polarization at normal incidence, and can even feature good stability for off-normal incidence. In this work we look for the optimal design rules to obtain high spectral stability conditions in the visible for those structures, through a complete review of all geometrical parameters using CMOS-compatible materials. Rigorous Coupled Wave Analysis (RCWA) simulations have been used to identify the most-impacting parameters and to determine typical ranges allowing for the realization of low-color errors image sensors whatever the light incidence.