中国物理B ›› 2014, Vol. 23 ›› Issue (2): 25204-025204.doi: 10.1088/1674-1056/23/2/025204

• PHYSICS OF GASES, PLASMAS, AND ELECTRIC DISCHARGES • 上一篇    下一篇

Mechanical properties of Al/a-C nanocomposite thin films synthesized using a plasma focus device

Z. A. Umara b, R. S. Rawata, R. Ahmadc, A. K. Kumard, Y. Wanga, T. Hussainc, Z. Chend, L. Shene, Z. Zhange   

  1. a NSSE, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637616, Singapore;
    b Department of Physics, GC University, 54000 Lahore, Pakistan;
    c Center for Advanced Studies in Physics (CASP), GC University, 54000 Lahore, Pakistan;
    d School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore;
    e Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), 3 Research Link, Singapore 117602, Singapore
  • 收稿日期:2013-02-04 修回日期:2013-05-20 出版日期:2013-12-12 发布日期:2013-12-12

Mechanical properties of Al/a-C nanocomposite thin films synthesized using a plasma focus device

Z. A. Umara b, R. S. Rawata, R. Ahmadc, A. K. Kumard, Y. Wanga, T. Hussainc, Z. Chend, L. Shene, Z. Zhange   

  1. a NSSE, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637616, Singapore;
    b Department of Physics, GC University, 54000 Lahore, Pakistan;
    c Center for Advanced Studies in Physics (CASP), GC University, 54000 Lahore, Pakistan;
    d School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore;
    e Institute of Materials Research and Engineering, A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), 3 Research Link, Singapore 117602, Singapore
  • Received:2013-02-04 Revised:2013-05-20 Online:2013-12-12 Published:2013-12-12
  • Contact: R. Ahmad E-mail:ahriaz@gcu.edu.pk
  • About author:52.59.Hq; 79.60.-i; 68.37.Vj; 62.20.de

摘要: The Al/a-C nanocomposite thin films are synthesized on Si substrates using a dense plasma focus device with aluminum fitted anode and operating with CH4/Ar admixture. X-ray diffractometer results confirm the formation of metallic crystalline Al phases using different numbers of focus shots. Raman analyses show the formation of D and G peaks for all thin film samples, confirming the presence of a-C in the nanocomposite thin films. The formation of Al/a-C nanocomposite thin films is further confirmed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. The scanning electron microscope results show that the deposited thin films consist of nanoparticles and their agglomerates. The sizes of th agglomerates increase with increasing numbers of focus deposition shots. The nanoindentation results show the variations in hardness and elastic modulus values of nanocomposite thin film with increasing the number of focus shots. Maximum values of hardness and elastic modulus of the composite thin film prepared using 20 focus shots are found to be about 10.7 GPa and 189.2 GPa, respectively.

关键词: dense plasma focus, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscope, elastic modulus

Abstract: The Al/a-C nanocomposite thin films are synthesized on Si substrates using a dense plasma focus device with aluminum fitted anode and operating with CH4/Ar admixture. X-ray diffractometer results confirm the formation of metallic crystalline Al phases using different numbers of focus shots. Raman analyses show the formation of D and G peaks for all thin film samples, confirming the presence of a-C in the nanocomposite thin films. The formation of Al/a-C nanocomposite thin films is further confirmed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis. The scanning electron microscope results show that the deposited thin films consist of nanoparticles and their agglomerates. The sizes of th agglomerates increase with increasing numbers of focus deposition shots. The nanoindentation results show the variations in hardness and elastic modulus values of nanocomposite thin film with increasing the number of focus shots. Maximum values of hardness and elastic modulus of the composite thin film prepared using 20 focus shots are found to be about 10.7 GPa and 189.2 GPa, respectively.

Key words: dense plasma focus, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscope, elastic modulus

中图分类号:  (Dense plasma focus)

  • 52.59.Hq
79.60.-i (Photoemission and photoelectron spectra) 68.37.Vj (Field emission and field-ion microscopy) 62.20.de (Elastic moduli)