Study of ${\rm CdI_2}$ nanocrystals dispersed in amorphous ${\rm Sb_2S_3}$ matrix

TL;DR

This study investigates how heat-treatment affects the surface plasmon resonance in films composed of cadmium iodide nanocrystals dispersed in an amorphous antimony trisulphide matrix, highlighting the influence of different crystalline states.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the relationship between crystalline states of CdI2 nanocrystals and their optical properties within an amorphous matrix.

Findings

SPR peaks vary with heat-treatment

Different crystalline states show distinct dielectric constants

Heat-treatment influences nanocrystal crystalline structure

Abstract

Crystalline nanoparticles of cadmium iodide where suspended in the amorphous matrix of antimony trisulphide. Both materials are layered structured and have large band-gaps however cadmium iodide exhibits polytypism, i.e. it exists in various different crystalline states. Different crystalline states are marked by wholely different dielectric constants which give rise to sharp surface plasmon resonance (SPR) peaks in the UV-visible. The manuscript details the variation in SPR's with heat-treatment of the films.