Quantum Confinement Observation of Milled Potassium Chloride

Abstract

Potassium chloride (KCl) nanoparticles were synthesized by ball milling technique with different milling time. The effect of milling time on structural and optical properties was investigated. The structural properties of the purchased samples are characterized by Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction techniques. The Raman spectroscopy of the KCl hints at an excellent alloying behavior of those compounds and a preferred crystal structure for certain composition. The optical band is calculated by analyzing the spectral behavior of the absorption coefficient in the absorption region which revealed direct transitions. The value optical band increases (4.02-5.11eV) with increasing milling time (0-15h) due to quantum confinement after the ball milling process. The refractive and absorption indices were calculated for all samples. The model of Wemple-DiDomenico was used to calculate the dispersion parameters. The nonlinear susceptibility of the third order and the nonlinear refractive index were calculated by linear optical parameters using the generalized Miller rule.