Structural and optical properties of highly Ag-doped TiO2 thin films prepared by flash thermal evaporation

The present study investigates the structural and optical properties of silver (Ag)-doped titanium dioxide (TiO2) thin films prepared via flash thermal evaporation using TiO2 and Ag powders mixture at various mass ratios. The crystallinity and surface morphology of the films were studied by varying the percentage of Ag content. Structural properties were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), while optical properties were assessed through optical transmission spectra analysis. Results indicate that Ag doping enhances crystallinity, as evidenced by XRD and Raman spectroscopy, and induces surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption attributed to Ag nanoparticles. SEM micrographs reveal agglomerated silver particles on the film surface, confirming Ag diffusion during annealing. Surface analysis through Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS) measurements illustrated the diffusion of Ag within the TiO2 samples and its subsequent accumulation at the surface. We have suggested that the crystallization observed in the evaporated TiO2-Ag thin films may primarily result from the thermal diffusion of Ag metal rather than the annealing process alone. Optical transmission spectra demonstrate a shift in the absorption edge towards the visible region with increasing Ag concentration, indicating enhanced light absorption properties.