Influence of post-implantation thermal and laser annealing on the stability of metal-alloy nanoclusters in silica

The effect of thermal or laser annealing on the evolution of binary alloy clusters in sequentially ion-implanted Au/Cu or Ag/Au silica glasses has been studied. In the case of Au/Cu system the selective effect of oxidizing atmosphere on alloy decomposition has been investigated as a function of the temperature and time, evidencing that alloy decomposition takes place with Cu oxidation. In the AuAg system the decomposition process is slower than in the AuCu case, due to lower silver-oxygen reactivity. On the contrary, laser annealing is able to promote alloy formation and/or composition modification even in systems with partially or completely separated components.