Algorithm for determining the structural characteristics of amorphous nanogranulated composites from the microwave waves reflection or conductivity

• Published in: Materials chemistry and physics 2022-10, Vol.290, p.126533, Article 126533
• Main Authors: Antonets, Igor V., Golubev, Yevgeny A., Shcheglov, Vladimir I.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amorphous materials; Conductive films; Conductivity; Electromagnetic shielding; Materials testing
• ISSN: 0254-0584; 1879-3312
• DOI: 10.1016/j.matchemphys.2022.126533

We present an algorithm for calculating structural characteristics of amorphous nanogranular composites (mean free path of electron, average sizes of granules and gaps between them) by the measured reflection coefficients of microwave waves or conductivity. The algorithm was tested with amorphous granular composite films with thickness of 2.2–5.8 μm, deposited on a sitall substrate. We showed that the mean free path of electrons fully corresponded to the average size of the granules at certain contents of the metal phase and reflection coefficients of microwave waves. The results were obtained with the usage of atomic force and scanning electron microscopy. •Algorithm for calculating the structural features of composite films by conductivity or the reflection of MWR was developed.•The algorithm has been successfully tested on amorphous granular composite films (Co45Fe45Zr10)x(Al2O3)1−x.•Calculation of the mean free path of electron from reflection of microwave radiation.•Reflection coefficient can be predicted from the composite films conductivity using the conductive granules size.