Non-spherical plasmonic copper nanoparticles in a transparent MgAl2O4 ceramic matrix: Optical spectroscopy and conceptional models

Ion-beam synthesis of plasmonic copper nanoparticles in the surface layer of nanocrystalline ceramics MgAl2O4 spinel was performed. Stepwise annealing of modified ceramics was carried out with simultaneous analysis of optical absorption. It is established that ellipsoidal plasmon nanoparticles are synthesized during the ion-beam bombardment. The use of polarized light to analyze the optical characteristics of irradiated ceramics allowed us to establish that plasmon nanoparticles are drawn in the direction of the incident ion flux during implantation. A mathematical model of the formation of ellipsoidal plasmon nanoparticles was developed, due to the implementation of competing processes of ion diffusion and increased activity of chemical bonds on the curved surface of the nanoparticle.