Influence of γ-irradiation on the optical properties of AgSbSe2 thin films

Amorphous AgSbSe2 thin films were deposited onto glass substrates using electron beam evaporation. The effect of gamma-irradiation on the optical properties of the deposited AgSbSe2 films was studied in the wavelength range 550-2500 nm. A red shift in the transmission spectra was observed with increasing gamma-irradiation dose. The refractive index of the deposited films was determined as a function of gamma-dose. It was established that exposure of the deposited films to gamma-radiation leads to increased refractive index in the whole spectral region. The refractive index dispersion of the deposited films is adequately described by the single oscillator model, whereby, the values of the oscillator parameters were determined as a function of gamma-dose. Analysis of the optical absorption coefficient revealed the presence of an indirect optical transition with band gap value decreases with increasing gamma-dose. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.