BARC/PUB/2017/0322

 
 

Mechanistic details of the formation and growth of nanoscale voids in Ge under extreme conditions within an ion track

 
     
 
Author(s)

Hooda, S.; Avchachov, K.; Khan, S. A.; Ahlawat, S.; and others
(BARC)

Source

Journal of Physics-D, 2017. Vol. 50 (22): pp. 1-8: Article no. 225302

ABSTRACT

The formation of nanoscale voids in amorphous-germanium (a-Ge), and their size and shape evolution under ultra-fast thermal spikes within an ion track of swift heavy ion, is meticulously expatiated using experimental and theoretical approaches. Two step energetic ion irradiation processes were used to fabricate novel and distinct embedded nanovoids within bulk Ge. The ‘bow-tie’ shape of voids formed in a single ion track tends to attain a spherical shape as the ion tracks overlap at a fluence of about 1 × 1012 ions cm−2. The void assumes a prolate spheroid shape with major axis along the ion trajectory at sufficiently high ion fluences. Small angle x-ray scattering can provide complementary information about the primary stage of void formation hence this technique is applied for monitoring simultaneously their formation and growth dynamics. The results are supported by the investigation of crosssectional transmission and scanning electron micrographs. The multi-time-scale theoretical approach corroborates the experimental findings and relates the bow-tie shape void formation to density variations as a result of melting and resolidification of Ge within the region of thermal spike generated along an ion track, plus non-isotropic stresses generated towards the end of the thermal spike.

 
 
SIRD Digital E-Sangrahay