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 does not alter the amorphous nature of the structure, significant effects on the transmittance, reflectance, absorption coefficient, Urbach's tails, and dielectric constant are observed. Silver oxide nanosheets successfully enhance the light absorbability of germanium dioxide in the visible and the infrared (IR) range of light. The light absorbability is increased by more than 12 times after the insertion of 75 nm-thick Ag2O nanosheets. In addition, a widening in Urbach's tails and narrowing in the indirect bandgap of GeO2 are detected as a result of increasing Ag2O layer thickness. The dielectric constant and optical conductivity are also increased by ≈59.6% and 191.4% in the IR range of light. The enhancement in the optical properties of GeO2 that results from the insertion of Ag2O nanosheets makes germanium dioxide more appropriate for optoelectronic applications.