Ultra-inclined nanocolumnar ZnO films sputtered using a novel masking configuration providing controlled and restricted oblique angle deposition for enhanced sensing platforms

Oblique angle deposition (OAD) of inclined thin films is mainly performed using electron beam evaporation due to its accurate point source control over the incoming evaporated flux angle α, leading to thin films with a nanocolumnar inclination angle β. However, the utilization of magnetron sputtering (MS) with an extended source for OAD is not extensively studied and reported. This work presents a thorough analysis of ZnO inclined thin films deposited by a novel restricted DC-reactive MS-OAD technique. OAD-inclined films are deposited at α ranged 60°-88°, where incoming flux is restricted using a patented masking configuration enabling tunable control of deposited nanocolumn angular range. The described technique provides accurate control over the resulting β (99.5% reproducibility), allowing demonstrated βmax of 47.3°, close to theoretical limits predicted for ZnO. The approach discussed here probes enhanced control of β comparable to that observed in evaporation, however using an extended source, resulting in high-quality reproducible nanocolumnar-inclined films. The mentioned improvements result from the exploration of operational parameters such as magnetron power, working pressure, and chamber temperature, as well as the design of the restricting configuration and substrate holders and their influence on the resulting inclined thin film crystallinity, and morphology

New ethnicities online: Reflexive racialisation and the internet

In this article we analyse the emergence of Internet activity addressing the experiences of young people in two British communities: South Asian and Chinese. We focus on two web sites: www.barficulture.com and www.britishbornchinese.org.uk, drawing on interviews with site editors, content analysis of the discussion forums, and E-mail exchanges with site users. Our analysis of these two web sites shows how collective identities still matter, being redefined rather than erased by online interaction. We understand the site content through the notion of reflexive racialisation. We use this term to modify the stress given to individualisation in accounts of reflexive modernisation. In addition we question the allocation of racialised meaning from above implied by the concept of racialisation. Internet discussion forums can act as witnesses to social inequalities and through sharing experiences of racism and marginalisation, an oppositional social perspective may develop. The online exchanges have had offline consequences: social gatherings, charitable donations and campaigns against adverse media representations. These web sites have begun to change the terms of engagement between these ethnic groups and the wider society, and they have considerable potential to develop new forms of social action