Influence of low energy Ar-ion bombardment on monolayer Ni/W(100)

• Published in: Physica. E, Low-dimensional systems & nanostructures Low-dimensional systems & nanostructures, 2014-02, Vol.56, p.337-341
• Main Authors: Gopalakrishnan, C., Ramaswamy, S., Ganesh, K.R., Jeganathan, K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Diffraction; Equations of state, phase equilibria, and phase transitions; Exact sciences and technology; Ion bombardment; Low-dimensional structures (superlattices, quantum well structures, multilayers): structure, and nonelectronic properties; Magnetism; Nanocrystalline materials; Nanostructures; Phase transformation; Physics; Radiation effects on specific materials; Specific phase transitions; Structural transitions in nanoscale materials; Structure of solids and liquids; crystallography; Surfaces and interfaces; thin films and whiskers (structure and nonelectronic properties)
• ISSN: 1386-9477; 1873-1759
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physe.2013.10.004

The changes in the morphological and structural properties of monolayer nickel thin films on tungsten induced by low energy Ar+ ion bombardment at varying fluencies have been explored using scanning tunneling microscopy and low energy electron diffraction, respectively, in this work. ~1 monolayer (ML) nickel films were grown on W(100) by electron beam evaporation under ultra high vacuum conditions at room temperature. It was found that the pseudomorphic growth observed in as-grown films was disrupted by the ion bombardment process with additional phases of Ni appearing in the ion bombarded samples. Increase in bombardment time lead to a pronounced phase transition to the hcp phase of Ni. Also, the ion bombardment induced the formation of larger nanostructures (with increasing particulate sizes) from the epitaxial monolayer in the as-deposited sample. Further, the magnetization and magnetic orientation were studied and it was observed that the bombardment induced a weak ferromagnetism in as-grown paramagnetic Ni film. The changes in the morphological and structural properties of monolayer nickel thin films on tungsten induced by low energy Ar+ ion bombardment at varying fluencies have been explored using scanning tunneling microscopy and low energy electron diffraction. [Display omitted] •Studies on Ni/W; a less understood material studied system.•Ultra thin films of Ni grown and the effects of ion bombardment on the same.•Detailed analysis of the structural and magnetic properties.