Physics of Iodized Silver & Silver-Copper Thin-Film Nanostructures

General theme of this work is concerned with preparation of cation (Cu) stabilized Gamma and beta-AgI nanostructure thin films by using vacuum thermal evaporation and RF magnetron sputtering techniques and their studies of crystal structure, morphology, UV/visible optical absorption, photo luminescence and Superionic phase transition in AgI and (Ag1-XCuX) I thin films using Impedance spectral study. The modus operandi is the fabrication of ultrathin ( 15 nm thick) silver and silver-copper alloy films by vacuum thermal (co) evaporation and (co)sputtering and their systematiciodization to produce zinc-blende AgI based nanostructures followed by a systematicexperimental investigation of crystal structure microstructure and optical properties(optical absorption and photoluminescence) besides a diagnostic study of electrical conductivity through impedance spectroscopy. The simple but effective means of iodization of Ag foils and thin films developed in our laboratory for about a decade has helped investigate nanostructure development, thin film formation mechanism and suchnovel issues as plasmon-exciton transition in Ag and Ag-Cu alloy films.