Nanoporous structure of vacuum condensates of nickel

• DOI: 10.1016/j.vacuum.2023.112468
• Publication Date: 2023-08-02T07:00:55Z
• Authors: A.I. Ustinov; V.I. Shtompel; V.S. Skorodzievskii; S.O. Demchenkov
• Keywords: Nanopore; Nanoporous; Small-angle X-ray scattering; Ultra-high vacuum; Coalescence (physics); Vacuum deposition

The nanoporous structure of nickel vacuum condensates produced by the EB PVD method was investigated. nanoscale pores were analyzed using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. It observed that set these nanopores can be considered a bimodal system with characteristic sizes approximately 1–3 nm 20–30 nm. is assumed smaller form as result coalescence individual vacancies into clusters during vapour phase deposition in vacuum. These have close to spherical shape are located inside grains. After annealing, characteristics nanopore ensemble change: presence almost negligible, while partially preserved. Based on this, it suggested at elevated temperatures, decompose vacancies, which then migrate towards sinks such grain boundaries micropores. This vacancy generation migration process explain experimentally enhanced diffusion mobility atoms relatively low annealing temperatures.