Peculiarities in the formation of gold nanoparticles by ion implantation in stabilized zirconia

The investigation of bulk single crystals and sputter-deposited films of yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) upon irradiation by gold (Au) ions with an average energy of 160 keV followed by postimplantation annealing revealed peculiarities in the formation of nanocrystalline metal (nc-M) particles in this matrix. In the case of irradiation to small doses ($\sim$5 $\times$ 10$^{15}$ cm$^{-2}$), the optical absorption spectra of samples showed evidence of the formation of nanoclusters of matrix cations ($nc$-Zr). In these samples, postimplantation annealing at temperatures $\sim$700$^\circ$C and above leads to the formation of $nc$-Au particles. Local elemental analysis of individual $nc$-M particles in the YSZ matrix irradiated to a dose of 4 $\times$ 10$^{16}$ cm$^{-2}$ and annealed at 800$^\circ$C showed the presence of metal nanoparticles with complex compositions including both implanted Au and matrix Zr atoms.