Undoped and Mn doped ZnO samples with different percentage of Mn content (1 mol%, 2 mol% and 3mol%) were synthesized by a simple solvo-thermal method. We have studied the structural, chemical and optical properties of the samples by using x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and UV-VIS spectroscopy. The XRD spectra show that all the samples are hexagonal wurtzite structures. The lattice parameters calculated for the Mn doped ZnO from the XRD pattern were found to be slightly larger than those of the undoped ZnO, which indicates substitution of Mn in ZnO lattice. SEM photograph shows the grain size of undoped ZnO is bigger than the Mn doped ZnO's indicating hindrance of grain growth upon Mn doping. As the Mn doping increases the optical band gap decreases for the range of Mn doping reported here.

We report the spatial maps of the localized surface plasmon resonances associated photon emission in a truncated tetrahedral gold nanoparticle on a silicon substrate. Site-specific cathodoluminescence spectroscopy and imaging in a scanning electron microscope shows stronger photon emission in the visible range near the tips of the particle in contact with the substrate compared to the edges of the particle. Strong local field variations on a length scale as short as 19 nm are resolved. We also perform FDTD simulations of both the spectra and, for the first time, the full cathodoluminescence images. Excellent agreement is obtained with the experimental results, and the detailed information available from the simulated results makes it possible to identify the signature of out-of-plane higher order modes in the truncated tetrahedral gold particle.

Employing cathodoluminescence (CL) spectroscopy and imaging in a field emission gun (FEG) scanning electron microscope (SEM), we study localized surface plasmon (LSP) modes on individual tilted gold nanodecahedron sitting on a silicon substrate. We experimentally resolve three distinct LSP modes in the far-field radiation acquired via CL. The experimental spectra and intensity maps of plasmon modes are in excellent agreement with the spectra and 2D-CL image obtained from finite difference time domain (FDTD) simulations. Detail analysis reveals the signature of a quadrupolar surface plasmon mode in addition to the two dipolar modes along azimuthal and polar direction of the decahedron. The experimental method and the theoretical formalism presented here provide useful insight into the plasmonic behavior of complex shaped metal nanoparticle supported by a high index substrate.

Using cross-section transmission electron microscopy ͑XTEM͒ we have studied the surface and subsurface structure of individual ripples having submicron scale wavelength and nanometer scale amplitude, generated by obliquely incident ͑50-120 keV͒ Ar ion bombardment of Si. The XTEM results reveal that the front slopes of ion-induced ripples have amorphous layers containing bubbles with sizes ranging from about 3 to 15 nm facing the ion beam direction. A thinner amorphous layer without bubbles, on the other hand, persists on the rear slope of ripples. We also observe an irregular interface between a-Si and c-Si, which is due to the direct impact amorphization mechanism prevalent near the end-of-range during heavy ion irradiation.

We performed cathodoluminescence (CL) spectroscopy and imaging in a high-resolution scanning electron microscope to locally and selectively excite and investigate the plasmonic properties of a multi-branched gold nanostar on a silicon substrate. This method allows us to map the local density of optical states from the nanostar with a spatial resolution down to a few nanometers. We resolve, both in the spatial and spectral domain, different plasmon modes associated with the nanostar. Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) numerical simulations are performed to support the experimental observations. We investigate the effect of the substrate on the plasmonic properties of these complex-shaped nanostars. The powerful CL-FDTD combination helps us to understand the effect of the substrate on the plasmonic response of branched nanoparticles.

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Dendritic silver nanostructures were prepared by a simple dip-and-rinse galvanic displacement reaction directly on germanium surfaces. The formation and evolution of these dendrites were investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The present results clearly show a new type of heteroepitaxy, where the large lattice mismatch between silver and germanium is accommodated at the interface by the formation of low-energy asymmetric tilt boundaries. The overgrown samples reduce the strain by introducing crystal defects. Additionally, by employing cathodoluminescence (CL) spectroscopy and imaging with a field emission gun scanning electron microscope (FEG-SEM), we provide information on the surface plasmon assisted photon emission of a stack of Ag hexagonal nanostructures. Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) studies show the suitability of such Ag nanodendritic structures as SERS active substrates.

The formation of a self-organized nanoscale ripple pattern after off-normally incident ion bombardment on the surface of amorphous materials, or on semiconductors like silicon that are easily amorphized by ion bombardment, has attracted much attention in recent years from the point of view of both theory and applications. As the energy of the impinging ions increases from low to medium, i.e. several hundred eV to a few tens of keV, the ratio of amplitude to wavelength of the generated ripple pattern becomes so large that inter-peak shadowing of the incident ion flux takes place. Morphologically, the sinusoidal surface profile starts to become distorted after prolonged ion bombardment under such conditions. Structural and compositional modifications of the ripple morphology generated under shadowing conditions include the formation of a thicker amorphous layer with high incorporation of argon atoms in the form of nanometer sized bubbles around the middle part of the front slope of the ripple facing the ion beam, as compared to the rear slope. The present paper reviews recent developments in the experimental study of morphological, structural and compositional aspects of ripple patterns generated on a silicon surface after medium keV (30-120 keV) argon bombardment mainly at an angle of ion incidence of 60°.