Effects of Ag2O Nanosheets on the Structural, Optical and Dielectric Properties of GeO2 Stacked Layers

Abstract

Herein, the effects of insertion of Ag2O nanosheets of thicknesses 25‐75 nm between stacked layers of GeO2 on the structural, morphological and optical properties of germanium dioxide are explored. While the stacking of GeO2/Ag2O/GeO2 layers did not alter the amorphous nature of the structure, significant effects on the transmittance, reflectance, absorption coefficient, Urbach’s tails and on dielectric constant is observed. Silver oxide nanosheets successfully enhanced the light absorbability of germanium dioxide in the visible and in the infrared range of light. The light absorbability are increased by more than 12 times after the insertion of 75 nm thick Ag2O nanosheets. In addition, a widening in the Urbach’s tails and narrowing in the indirect band gap of GeO2 is detected as a result of increasing the Ag2O layers thickness. The dielectric constant and optical conductivity are also increased by ∽59.6% and by 191.4% in the IR range of light. The enhancement in the optical properties of germanium dioxide that resulted from the insertion of Ag2O nanosheets makes the germanium dioxide more appropriates for optoelectronic applications.