Band gap tuning in As40Se53Sb07 thin films by 532Â nm laser irradiation: An optical investigation by spectroscopic techniques

The chalcogenide thin films belongs to a special category of important materials due to the unique IR transparency and light induced linear and non linear optical properties change. The optical band gap tuning in thermally evaporated As40Se53Sb07 chalcogenide thin film is being probed under the influence of 532 nm laser illumination. The gradual decrease in transmission and red shift of optical absorption edge with illumination at different time scale is recorded by Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy. The simultaneous increase in refractive index and absorption coefficient of the illuminated film makes the material as useful candidate for optical switching. The dispersion of refractive index is being analyzed by using Wemple-DiDomenico (WDD) single oscillator model and static refractive index (n0) has also been reported. The exponential decrease of optical band gap with time is attributed to the increase in density of localized states and vacancies. The entire mechanism is explained by the microscopic model in which heteropolar bonds are converted to homopolar ones by the absorption of high energy photons investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectra. The amorphous nature of the studied films was revealed from X-ray diffraction and composition of the film was determined from energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The surface morphology was determined from the scanning electron microscopy. The optical change in absorption coefficient, refractive index, band gap by influence in laser irradiation in such materials may be suitable for optical disc(memory) application for optical time division switch.