Characterization of Nanocomposite Materials Prepared via Laser Ablation of Pt/TiO₂ Bicombinant Targets

Pt/TiO₂ thin-film nanocomposites have been prepared using a process of bicombinant-target pulsed-laser deposition. Pt nanoparticles have been produced, possibly in the deposition process through rapid surface diffusion. The nanocomposite films can be created with the anatase form of TiO₂ being the dominant crystal structure. The Pt nanoparticles are about 30 nm in size and homogeneously distributed. Within the nanocomposite films a 5% Pt atomic concentration can be synthesized from 20% Pt by weight bi-combinant targets. These thin films exhibit an optical bandgap less than 2.3 eV and a photoluminescence emission between 680 and 800 nm.