Optical characterisation of radio frequency plasma polymerised Lavandula angustifolia essential oil thin films

Abstract

Optically transparent RF plasma polymerised thin films were fabricated from Lavandula angustifolia essential oil under varying RF power levels and their optical properties investigated. The refractive index, extinction coefficient, absorption and optical band gap of the thin films in addition to their thickness and roughness were investigated using the spectroscopic ellipsometry and UV-Vis spectroscopy in the wavelength range 200–1000 nm (6.199–1.239 eV). For films fabricated under the RF power from 10 W to 75 W, the refractive index values vary from 1.530 to 1.543 at 500 nm. Even though the refractive index is unaffected by the RF power, the optical band gap tends to decrease with increasing RF power, with 2.75 at 10 W and 2.34 at 75 W.