Electrolytic deposition of TiC nanoparticles/Ag composite films and their optical properties

TiC nanoparticles/Ag composite films were successfully prepared on an indium tin oxide (ITO) substrate through co-electrodeposition, using the Ag plating solutions with minor addition of TiC nanoparticles, followed by heat treatment in vacuum. The X-ray diffractometer, scanning electron microscope and UV–Vis spectrophotometer were used to characterise phase composition, morphologies and optical properties of as-fabricated films, respectively. Experimental results show that only TiC and Ag phases are identified for the TiC nanoparticles/Ag composite films and TiC nanoparticles are incorporated tightly and uniformly on the surface of the composite films, without obvious clustering. The results of optical property test reveal that the TiC nanoparticles/Ag composite films have similar optical properties as thick silver films perforated with nanohole arrays, which will pave the way towards numerous potential applications of Ag nanohole arrays.