Photoinduced Surface Deposition of Ag Ge S Films: Its Enhancement by Addition of Small Amount of Au

The effect of the addition of Au on photoinduced surface deposition (PSD) has been examined using Ag Ge S films with various Ag contents. Photosensitivity of the PSD effect was found to be enhanced by the addition of a small amount of Au (less than 2 wt%). The enhancement was significant for the film with a low Ag content but decreased with an increase in the Ag content. The result can be explained by the idea that the Au atoms incorporated in the Ag Ge S network may form Au clusters which can act as nucleation centers of stable Ag nuclei in the PSD process.