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Linear and Nonlinear Absorption Properties of Diamond-Like Carbon Doped With Cu Nanoparticles

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Abstract

Ultrafast relaxation processes in diamond-like carbon (DLC) thin films with embedded Cu nanoparticles (DLC:Cu nanocomposites) were investigated by means of transient absorption spectroscopy focusing on localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) of photoexcited Cu nanoparticles. Absorption spectra of the composite films correspond to the sum of absorption spectra of DLC matrix and Cu nanoparticles; however, Cu nanoparticles strongly dominate in the transient differential absorption. Excitations of DLC matrix and of Cu nanoparticles relax independently revealing no strong interaction. High sensitivity measurements enabled to obtain the hot electron relaxation dynamics in Cu nanoparticles in the low excitation intensity conditions. The relaxation time was found to be independent of the excitation intensity up to tens of microjoule per square centimeter per pulse and to increase at higher intensities. The relaxation time obtained at low excitation intensity was also found to increase by about 30 % in the samples with high Cu concentration, where larger nanoparticles were formed.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the European Social Fund under the Global Grant measure (project No. VP1-3.1-ŠMM-07-K-03-057). This research was performed within COST action MP1205.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Materials Science, Kaunas University of Technology, K. Baršausko St. 59, 51423, Kaunas, Lithuania

    Domantas Peckus, Tomas Tamulevičius, Šarūnas Meškinis, Asta Tamulevičienė, Andrius Vasiliauskas, Orestas Ulčinas & Sigitas Tamulevičius

  2. Center for Physical Sciences and Technology, Savanorių Ave. 231, 02300, Vilnius, Lithuania

    Domantas Peckus & Vidmantas Gulbinas

  3. Department of Physics, Kaunas University of Technology, Studentų Str. 50, 51368, Kaunas, Lithuania

    Tomas Tamulevičius, Asta Tamulevičienė & Sigitas Tamulevičius

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  1. Domantas Peckus
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Peckus, D., Tamulevičius, T., Meškinis, Š. et al. Linear and Nonlinear Absorption Properties of Diamond-Like Carbon Doped With Cu Nanoparticles. Plasmonics 12, 47–58 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11468-016-0227-0

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