The effect of wavelength on the deposition of Ag onto PZT thin films during UV irradiation

The deposition of metal salts onto ferroelectric substrates using UV radiation has been undertaken by the authors. Preferential Ag deposition on the positively poled domains has been attributed to surface band bending due to the polar nature of the materials. The experimental results for Ag nanocluster deposition under UV irradiation onto sol-gel derived thin film PZT are presented here. It has been found that irradiation with UV light ranging from 6.2 eV to 4.1 eV caused Ag deposition on negative [1], as well as positive domains. By controlling the energy of irradiation it is possible to define on which areas the Ag clusters will grow.