P. Mazzoldi

Bio: P. Mazzoldi is an academic researcher from Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The author has contributed to research in topics: Ion implantation & Nanoclusters. The author has an hindex of 33, co-authored 125 publications receiving 2991 citations.

Effect of low dose high energy O3+ implantation on refractive index and linear electro-optic properties in X-cut LiNbO3: Planar optical waveguide formation and characterization

Abstract: X-cut LiNbO3 crystals were implanted at room temperature by 5.0 MeV O3+ ions with doses ranging from 1.0×1014 to 6.0×1014 O/cm2. Secondary ion mass spectrometry profiles of atomic species migration as well as damage profiles by the Rutherford backscattering channeling technique and refractive index variation were investigated as a function of dose and subsequent annealing conditions. Two different kinds of damage produced by oxygen implantation were seen: near-surface damage correlated to electronic stopping, which causes an increase of the extraordinary refractive index, and end-of-ion range damage generated by collision cascades, which decreases the extraordinary refractive index values. The different nature of the two kinds of damage is also seen by the different temperature conditions needed for recovery. Low loss planar optical waveguides were obtained and characterized by the prism coupling technique.

Silver nanocrystals in silica by sol-gel processing

Abstract: Silver nanocrystal doped silica films were prepared by the sol-gel process. The sol was prepared from 1:0.12:12:0.2:6:7 molar ratios of Si(OC2H5)4:AgNO3:H2O:HNO3:C3nH7OH:C4iH9OH. The glassy, highly transparent film with high dopant concentration (silver/silicon atomic ratio = 0.12) was successfully prepared by the dip-coating method. After drying in air at 60°C for 30 min, samples were heat-treated, in air, at 300, 350, 400, 450, 500 and 550°C using 30–100 min soaking periods for each step in a cumulative heating procedure. Measurements on the films were made by ultraviolet-visible and infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Rutherford backscattering spectrometry and transmission electron microscopy. Mechanisms of silver colloid formation in the densified silica matrix with respect to the thermal treatment are discussed. To understand the formation of silver nanocrystals from the silver silicate network, the corresponding doped bulk gel samples were analyzed by X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry.

Formation of copper and silver nanometer dimension clusters in silica by the sol‐gel process

Abstract: Ag and Cu (pure and/or mixture) nanoclusters doped silica films were prepared by the sol‐gel process. In the case of Ag and Cu codoped silica films, Cu/Ag molar ratio was 1, 2, and 3 at constant (Ag+Cu)/SiO2 molar ratio of 0.175. Separated Ag and Cu nanoclusters are formed in the silica matrix. The size of the clusters and their distribution are dependent on the film composition. Optical absorption was measured from 185 to 800 nm. Intensity‐dependent nonlinear refractive index was measured for pure Cu and Ag–Cu (1:1 molar ratio) samples using z‐scan technique in the wavelength range from 570 to 596 nm. The measured nonlinear refractive index is of the order of 10−13 m2/W at a pulse repetition rate of 15.2 MHz.

Damage effects produced in the near-surface region of x-cut LiNbO3 by low dose, high energy implantation of nitrogen, oxygen, and fluorine ions

Abstract: The damage effects produced in the near-surface region of x-cut LiNbO3 by low dose, high energy implantation of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and fluorine ions are investigated as a function of the dose and substrate temperature during the implant process. The damage profiles were obtained by the Rutherford backscattering RBS-channeling technique, whereas the compositional profiles were performed by secondary ion mass spectrometry. The experimental results showed that the mechanisms governing the damage formation at the surface are strongly connected to the interaction of defects produced when the electronic energy loss exceeds a given threshold close to 220 eV/A. In particular, we observed a damage pileup compatible with a growth of three-dimensional defect clusters.

Annealing behavior of silver, copper, and silver-copper nanoclusters in a silica matrix synthesized by the sol-gel technique

Abstract: Silver, copper, and mixed silver–copper nanocluster‐doped silica thin layers were prepared by the sol‐gel process. Samples were heat treated in different annealing atmospheres (air, argon, or 5%H2–95%N2) in the temperature range 500–1100 °C. Specimens were characterized by optical absorption spectroscopy, Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, x‐ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. Cluster growth and dissolution, as well as migration of metal atoms towards the sample surface, with a subsequent evaporation, were observed to occur at temperatures that depend on the annealing atmosphere. In the mixed silver–copper system, the formation of Ag–Cu phase‐separated clusters was observed.

Gold nanoparticles: assembly, supramolecular chemistry, quantum-size-related properties, and applications toward biology, catalysis, and nanotechnology.

Abstract: Although gold is the subject of one of the most ancient themes of investigation in science, its renaissance now leads to an exponentially increasing number of publications, especially in the context of emerging nanoscience and nanotechnology with nanoparticles and self-assembled monolayers (SAMs). We will limit the present review to gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), also called gold colloids. AuNPs are the most stable metal nanoparticles, and they present fascinating aspects such as their assembly of multiple types involving materials science, the behavior of the individual particles, size-related electronic, magnetic and optical properties (quantum size effect), and their applications to catalysis and biology. Their promises are in these fields as well as in the bottom-up approach of nanotechnology, and they will be key materials and building block in the 21st century. Whereas the extraction of gold started in the 5th millennium B.C. near Varna (Bulgaria) and reached 10 tons per year in Egypt around 1200-1300 B.C. when the marvelous statue of Touthankamon was constructed, it is probable that “soluble” gold appeared around the 5th or 4th century B.C. in Egypt and China. In antiquity, materials were used in an ecological sense for both aesthetic and curative purposes. Colloidal gold was used to make ruby glass 293 Chem. Rev. 2004, 104, 293−346

Nanoalloys: From Theory to Applications of Alloy Clusters and Nanoparticles

Abstract: 5.1. Nanoalloys of Group 11 (Cu, Ag, Au) 865 5.1.1. Cu−Ag 866 5.1.2. Cu−Au 867 5.1.3. Ag−Au 870 5.1.4. Cu−Ag−Au 872 5.2. Nanoalloys of Group 10 (Ni, Pd, Pt) 872 5.2.1. Ni−Pd 872 * To whom correspondence should be addressed. Phone: +39010 3536214. Fax:+39010 311066. E-mail: ferrando@fisica.unige.it. † Universita di Genova. ‡ Argonne National Laboratory. § University of Birmingham. | As of October 1, 2007, Chemical Sciences and Engineering Division. Volume 108, Number 3

Channeling and related effects in the motion of charged particles through crystals

Abstract: The motion of energetic charged particles inside a monocrystalline solid can be strongly influenced by channeling and blocking effects. The present article reviews the theory, the experimental studies, and some of the applications of these effects. The coverage of the published literature extends through June 1973.

Optical Effects of Ion Implantation

Abstract: Publisher Summary A refractive index can be increased by ion implantation by changes in density and structure, by the addition of high-polarizability impurity ions, by a reduction of the plasma effect that increases the index and that is most important in the wavelength region far from the energy gap, and by absorption changing in the index in the region of the gap, that is, via the Kramers–Kronig relation. This chapter discusses the optical properties of implanted semiconductors, electrooptic components formed by ion implantation, general principles that determine most luminescent systems, effects of implantation temperature, luminescence centers in LiF-Mg-Ti radiation dosimeters, and use of line spectra in defect studies. In the LiF system, the luminescence bands are broad, and if alternative versions of the same complex exist, they cannot be resolved from the spectra. The addition, by implantation, of ions with incomplete inner electron shells opens up new possibilities as the lattice distortions of the free-ion energy levels are strongly perturbed by the defects in the neighborhood of the ion.

Synthesis and characterization of stable aqueous dispersions of silver nanoparticles through the Tollens process

Abstract: This paper describes a simple and convenient procedure based on the Tollens process for the preparation of silver nanoparticles with a relatively narrow distribution in size. The starting reagents were similar to those commonly used in the electroless deposition of silver. Only under appropriate conditions, mixing of these reagents was able to generate stable aqueous dispersions of silver colloids rather than thin films of silver deposited on the surfaces of objects immersed in the plating solution (including the interior surface of the container). We have demonstrated the capability and feasibility of this approach by forming silver nanoparticles with dimensions in the range of 20–50 nm. These silver nanoparticles could exist as very stable dispersions in water, or as submonolayer coating on microscale colloids. We have also explored the use of light scattering simulation to study the oxidation (by air) of these nanoparticles.