Nonstoichiometric transfer during laser ablation of metal alloys

Large angular variations in film composition have been found for ablation of a metallic AuCu alloy (Au/Cu ratio ∼1) in vacuum and background gases of Ne and Xe. The AuCu films grown in vacuum at a laser fluence of 5 Jcm−2 exhibit a large loss in the Cu content, with the Au/Cu ratio ∼2.4 at angles close to normal incidence. At this fluence, a distortion of the plume front is observed followed by the appearance of a secondary emission at the substrate, suggesting that resputtering of the film by energetic ions and reflection of ions/atoms at the substrate can lead to a nonstoichiometric transfer in pulsed laser deposition. Further, we have found that depending on the mass of the background gas employed during growth (Ne or Xe), the ratio of elements in the film can vary significantly over a wide range of angles of deposition. In the presence of the light gas Ne, the degree of nonstoichiometric transfer is gradually reduced with increasing background pressure, resulting in a nearly stoichiometric AuCu films at a Ne pressure of 2 mbar. The behavior in the heavy gas Xe is more complex, and both theoretical and experimental data indicate that the loss of Cu in the deposits is caused by the preferential scattering, as well as by backscattering of the light Cu atoms in the plume upon collisions with the background gas

Cathodic Arc Evaporation of MCrALY Coatings

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The influence of lithium excess in the target on the properties and compositions of Li1+x Mn2O4−δ thin films prepared by PLD

Li–Mn–O thin films were deposited by pulsed laser deposition (PLD) onto stainless steel substrates using targets containing different concentrations of added Li2O. The influence of the target composition on the stoichiometry of the resulting thin films, the surface morphology and the electrochemical properties was studied. The application of the target with added 7.5 mol% Li2O results in an almost ideal lithium content, while all films were still oxygen deficient. The thin films were applied as electrodes in Li//Li1+xMn2O4−δ cells (i.e. model cells for a rechargeableLi-ionbattery)andcharacterizedbycyclicvoltammetry and galvanostatic charge/discharge experiments. The electrochemical measurements of the thin films confirmed that the thin films can serve as good modelsystems and that they show a sufficient cyclability

The Synthesis of EBC Layer Stacks by the Combination of PVD and CVD in a Continuous Vacuum Process

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Dealloying of Platinum-Aluminum Thin Films Part II. Electrode Performance

Highly porous Pt/Al thin film electrodes on yttria stabilized zirconia electrolytes were prepared by dealloying of co-sputtered Pt/Al films. The oxygen reduction capability of the resulting electrodes was analyzed in a solid oxide fuel cell setup at elevated temperatures. During initial heating to 523 K exceptionally high performances compared to conventional Pt thin film electrodes were measured. This results from the high internal surface area and large three phase boundary length obtained by the dealloying process. Exposure to elevated temperatures of 673 K or 873 K gave rise to degradation of the electrode performance, which was primarily attributed to the oxidation of remaining Al in the thin films.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Dealloying of Platinum-Aluminum Thin Films Part I. Dynamics of Pattern Formation

Applying focused ion beam (FIB) nanotomography and Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS) to dealloyed platinum-aluminum thin films an in-depth analysis of the dominating physical mechanisms of porosity formation during the dealloying process is performed. The dynamical porosity formation due to the dissolution of the less noble aluminum in the alloy is treated as result of a reaction-diffusion system. The RBS analysis yields that the porosity formation is mainly caused by a linearly propagating diffusion front, i.e. the liquid/solid interface, with a uniform speed of 42(3) nm/s when using a 4M aqueous NaOH solution at room temperature. The experimentally observed front evolution is captured by the normal diffusive Fisher-Kolmogorov-Petrovskii-Piskounov (FKPP) equation and can be interpreted as a branching random walk phenomenon. The etching front produces a gradual porosity with an enhanced porosity in the surface-near regions of the thin film due to prolonged exposure of the alloy to the alkaline solution.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure