Nanostructuring of BaF2 (1 1 1) surfaces by single slow highly charged ions

The creation of surface nanostructures in BaF₂ (1 1 1) surfaces was studied after irradiation with slow highly charged Xe ions from the Dresden-EBIT (electron beam ion trap). After irradiation, the crystals were investigated by scanning force microscopy (SFM). Using specific ion parameters, the topographic images show nanohillocks emerging from the surface. Additionally, we used the technique of selective chemical etching to reveal the lattice damage created by ion energy deposition below and above threshold needed for surface hillocks formation. The role of both potential and kinetic energy as well as a comparison with results for swift heavy ion irradiations of BaF₂ single crystals are presented.     

Growth of TiO2 surfaces following low energy (<40 eV) atom and small cluster bombardment

Low energy (10-40 eV) interaction of small Ti_xO_y clusters with a rutile (1 1 0) substrate was investigated using molecular dynamics with the aim of determining the influence of various parameters on surface growth and defect formation. Rutile growth was simulated through depositing randomly selected clusters with energies in the tens of eV range. Long time scale evolution was approximated through heating the substrate. A modified second-moment-Buckingham-QEq (SMB-Q) empirical potential was developed for the purpose. Crystal growth on amorphous and anatase TiO₂ substrates was also considered. Grown lattice layers were compared by visual inspection along with radial distribution function (RDF) plots. Bombardment at an energy of around 20 eV in an oxygen rich atmosphere with a high proportion of bombarding clusters, TiO, TiO₂, as opposed to single atoms, was found to produce rutile growth with the best crystallinity.     

Surface and sub-surface oxidation of α-Cu-(17 at.%)Al(1 0 0) studied by X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy and low energy He scattering spectroscopy

In this study the initial stages of oxidation of the α-Cu-(17 at.%)Al(1 0 0) single crystal oriented alloy surface was investigated by X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy and low energy He⁺ scattering spectroscopy. It was found that oxygen adsorption can be divided in two sequential stages: (i) a fast process, up to 15–20 L exposure, in which oxygen adsorbs on the alloy’s surface resulting mostly in the formation of Al–O chemisorbed bonds; and (ii) a slower process during which oxygen adsorbs forming Cu–O and Al–O chemisorbed bonds concurrent with diffusion of O to the sub-surface and Al segregation to the surface region. The surface oxidation rate is much higher than the sub-surface one. The rate of Al segregation increases with oxygen exposure and involves both surface and sub-surface regions. Annealing of the oxidized alloy surface results in a pronounced segregation of Al and formation of an aluminum oxide layer.