Scanning probe microscopy, luminescence and third harmonic generation studies of elongated CdS:Mn nanostructures developed by energetic oxygen-ion-impact

Manganese-doped cadmium sulfide nanoparticles are synthesized in a flexible polymer matrix (synthetic rubber) by a chemical route. They are bombarded with 80-MeV oxygen ions having electronic energy loss (Se) dominant over nuclear energy loss (Sn) and with fluence variation 1011?1013 ions/cm2. Piling up of nanoparticles along certain direction was observed in atomic force microscopy (AFM) images of irradiated samples. Such elongated nanostructures are as a result of nanoparticle growth during ion passage through the samples. Specifically, elongated structures in the form of nanoneedles, nanochannels and nanorods have been observed. The fluence dependent photoluminescence spectra (PL) show significant luminescent peaks at 445 nm and 706 nm, respectively which are tunable with ion fluence. Such a tunability could be promising as lasing materials in nano-luminescent devices and laser diodes. Further, detection of efficient third harmonic generation (THG) in these samples (by using irradiation of a Cr:fosterite laser) could be promising in nanoscopy and nonlinear optics.