Vacancy-type defects were introduced into magnesium aluminate spinel (MgAl2O4 (110)) by Ar-ions implantation, and then Ag-ions were implanted into the depth rich in vacancy-type defects. The ultraviolet–visible spectrometry and positron annihilation spectroscopy were used to study the influence of vacancy-type defects on nucleation of Ag nanoparticles. After introduction of vacancy-type defects the pronounced increase of surface plasmon resonance absorbance intensity indicated that defects enhance the nucleation of Ag nanoparticles. The positron annihilation spectroscopy results revealed that vacancy-type defects provided pre-nucleating centers for Ag nanoparticles nucleation and growth.

Enhanced Nucleation of Ag Nanoparticles by Vacancy-Type Defects in Ar-Ions Implanted Spinel. Y.Yang, C.Zhang, B.Li, L.Zhang, C.Xu, X.Jia: Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B, 2010, 268[24], 3529-32