Theoretical SAXS Analysis of Structures of Disordered Gold Polymer Thin Films

TL;DR

This paper applies fractal SAXS theory to analyze disordered gold-polymer thin films, revealing how ion dose influences their nanostructure and electrical properties, with strong agreement between theory and experiment.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical SAXS analysis of gold-polymer thin films, elucidating the structural transition from insulating to conducting regimes based on ion implantation dose.

Findings

Excellent agreement between SAXS theory and experimental data.

Identification of monodispersive and polydispersive nanocluster characteristics.

Correlation between ion dose and film structure/electrical behavior.

Abstract

Recently the structure of disordered gold-polymer(PMMA-Au) thin films have been measured using Small Angle X-ray Scattering (SAXS). We have analyzed these experimental results using the fractal SAXS theory. The films are formed of polymer-embedded gold nanoclusters and were fabricated by very low energy gold ion implantation into PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate). The composite films span (with dose variation) the transition from electrically insulating to electrically conducting regimes, a range of interest fundamentally and technologically. We find excellent agreement with theory, and show that the PMMA-Au films have monodispersive or polydispersive characteristics depending on the implanted ion dose. Keywords: SAXS theory, Fractality, percolation, correlation effects.