Mechanisms of surface nanostructuring of Al2O3 and MgO by grazing incidence irradiation with swift heavy ions

Karlušić, Marko; Rymzhanov, Ruslan; O'Connell, Jacques; Tomić Luketić, Kristina; Siketić, Zdravko; Fazinić, Stjepko; Dubček, Pavo; Jakšić, Milko; Provatas, Georgios; Medvedev, Nikita; Volkov, Alexander; Schleberger, Marika (2021) Mechanisms of surface nanostructuring of Al2O3 and MgO by grazing incidence irradiation with swift heavy ions. Surfaces and Interfaces, 27 . ISSN 2468-0230

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Abstract

We experimentally discovered that Al2O3 and MgO exhibit well-pronounced nanometric modifications on the surfaces when irradiated under grazing incidence with 23 MeV I beam, in contrast to normal incidence irradiation with the same ion beam when no damage was found. Moreover, ions in these two materials produce notably different structures: grooves surrounded with nanohillocks on MgO surfaces vs. smoother, roll-like discontinuous structures on the surfaces of Al2O3. To explain these results, detailed numerical simulations were performed. We identified that a presence of the surface inhibits recrystallization process, thereby preventing transient tracks from recovery, and thus forming observable nanopatterns. Furthermore, a difference in the viscosities in molten states in Al2O3 vs. MgO explains the differences in the created nanostructures. Our results thus provide a deeper understanding of the fundamental processes of surface nanostructuring, potentially allowing for controlled production of periodic surface nanopatterns.

Item Type:

Article

Uncontrolled Keywords:

ion irradiation ; irradiation effects ; swift heavy ion ; atomic force microscopy ; MD simulation

Subjects:

NATURAL SCIENCES > Physics

Divisions:

Division of Experimental Physics
Division of Materials Physics

Projects:

Project title	Project leader	Project code	Project type
Dinamika defekta u nanomaterijalima: istraživanje putem eksperimenata s ionskim tragovima	Karlušić, Marko	IP-2018-01-2786	HRZZ
Potpora vrhunskim istraživanjima Centra izvrsnosti za napredne materijale i senzore	Ivanda, Mile; Jakšić, Milko; Stipčević, Mario; Kralj, Marko	KK.01.1.1.01.0001	EK
Promjene u kristaliničnim materijalima izazvane ionskim snopovima MeV-skih energija	Fazinić, Stjepko	IP-2013-11-8127	HRZZ
Lowering threshold for Ion-Track Formation: Implications for Nucler Waste Immobilization	Karlušić, Marko	23009	IAEA