Study on copper–fullerene nanocomposite irradiated by 120 MeV Au ions

Abstract We report the swift heavy ion irradiation induced tailoring of structural properties of nanocomposite thin films of copper nanoparticles embedded in fullerene matrix. Cu metal nanoparticles with low metal concentration (~ 5 at%) are deposited in fullerene C 60 matrix. The thickness of the combined film is about 50 nm as revealed by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry. The absorbance of copper nanoparticles did not exhibit any characteristic plasmon resonance owing to low concentration of metal. The analysis of results of Raman spectroscopy demonstrated the structural transformation of fullerene to amorphous carbon at high fluence of 120 MeV Au ion beam. The formation of structures such as carbon nanowires as a result of irradiation has been revealed by FESEM micrographs. TEM results confirm the formation of small size copper nanoparticles in pristine film and growth of the Cu particles under the effect of swift heavy ions irradiation. I-V characteristics of metal-fullerene nanocomposite thin films give a clear indication that the value of resistance decreases due to effects of increasing fluence of ion irradiation.