Swift heavy ion irradiation of GaSb: From ion tracks to nanoporous networks

C. Notthoff, S. Jordan, A. Hadley, P. Mota-Santiago, R. G. Elliman, W. Lei, N. Kirby, P. Kluth

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    6 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Ion track formation, amorphization, and the formation of porosity in crystalline GaSb induced by 185 MeV Au197 swift heavy ion irradiation is investigated as a function of fluence and irradiation angle relative to the surface normal. Rutherford backscattering spectrometry in channeling configuration and small-angle x-ray scattering reveal an ion track radius between 3 and 5 nm. The observed pore morphology and saturation swelling of GaSb films shows a strong irradiation angle dependence. Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy show that the ion tracks act as a source of strain in the material, leading to macroscopic plastic flow at high fluences and off-normal irradiation. The results are consistent with the ion hammering model for glasses. Furthermore, wide-angle x-ray scattering reveals the formation of nanocrystallites inside otherwise amorphous GaSb after the onset of porosity.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article number046001
    JournalPhysical Review Materials
    Volume4
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Apr 2020

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