Characterization of nanocomposite materials prepared via laser ablation of Pt/TiO2 bi-combinant targets

Pt/TiO2 thin-film nanocomposites have been prepared using a process of bi-combinant-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 ∼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.