Anomalous transmission of Ag/ZnO nanocomposites prepared by a magnetron sputtering

Single layer and double layer thin ZnO films with Ag nano-clusters on top and between them are fabricated by magnetron sputtering with subsequent annealing procedures. Transmission spectra measurements of the Ag/ZnO nanocomposite shows that a disordering (yet controllable) annealing modification, leads to a high transmission in the near-to the mid-IR spectral regimes. The spectra also show oscillations in the visible wavelength regime due to the excitation of surface plasmons that propagate along the surface of the nano-cluster. The behavior reported here is of interest for future implementation of new sub-wavelength, nanoplasmonic devices.