Modification in properties of Ni-NWs meshes by Ar⁺ ions beam irradiation

Influence of 30 kilo-electron-volt (keV) Argon (Ar⁺) ions on optical and electrical properties of nickel nanowires (Ni-NWs) meshes is being reported. Ni-NWs are being exposed to 30 keV Argon (Ar⁺) ions at various beam fluencies. These fluencies of Ar⁺ ions are 7 × 10¹⁴ ions cm^-2, 3 × 10¹⁵ ions cm^-2 and 3 × 10¹⁶ ions cm^-2. After irradiation, Ni-NWs meshes were analyzed through transmission electron microscopy technique (TEM). The structural analysis has been done through X-ray diffraction technique. It is found from TEM results that atoms are sputtered out from surfaces of Ni-NWs due to collision cascade effect persistently and lead to reduce the diameters or thicknesses of Ni-NWs. X-ray diffraction results reveal that crystalline quality is reduced under Ar⁺ ions irradiation which may be due to defects induced in Ni-NWs as a result of collision cascade effect. The Ni-NWs meshes are characterized optically and electrically through UV-VIS spectroscopy and four probe techniques. The optical transparencies of Ni-NWs meshes are increasing with increase in beam fluence of Ar⁺ ions. The electrical conductivity of the mesh is decreased continuously with increment in beam fluence of Ar⁺ ions which might be due to production of defects in Ni-NWs. The tuning of optical transparency and electrical conductivity of Ni-NWs meshes is required for their application as successful transparent electrodes in optoelectronic nanodevices.