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In situ tuning of crystallization pathways by electron beam irradiation and heating in amorphous bismuth ferrite films.

ABSTRACT: The sculpting of crystalline materials from amorphous films by electron beam irradiation in transmission electron microscopy (TEM) offers an effective way for fabrication of nanostructure and devices. However, the synthesis of multifunctional complex oxide and related composites for possible device application is difficult to achieve. Here, we show that the crystallization pathways of amorphous bismuth ferrite films could be tuned by controlled electron beam irradiation and in situ heating in TEM. The results show that Bi segregates from amorphous films and then aggregates into crystalline nanoparticles (the particle size can be tuned by electron dose rates) under electron beam irradiation below 100 °C, while Bi₂Fe₄O₉ nanocrystals are observed at boundary areas between quasi-liquid Bi nanoparticles at 300 °C due to the cooperative effect of electron beam irradiation and thermal heating. Moreover, the Bi/Bi₂Fe₄O₉ metal/semiconductor solid state heterostructure with nearly atomically sharp interfaces emerges when cooling down to room temperature. This finding expands the variety of nanostructures synthesized by electron bombardment and offers a new way to fabricate complex architectures and possible functional devices at the nanometer scale with direct in situ TEM observation and monitoring.

SUBMITTER: Li Z

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9081700 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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<i>In situ</i> tuning of crystallization pathways by electron beam irradiation and heating in amorphous bismuth ferrite films.

Li Zhipeng Z Wang Zhong Lin ZL Wang Zhiwei Z

RSC advances 20180628 42

The sculpting of crystalline materials from amorphous films by electron beam irradiation in transmission electron microscopy (TEM) offers an effective way for fabrication of nanostructure and devices. However, the synthesis of multifunctional complex oxide and related composites for possible device application is difficult to achieve. Here, we show that the crystallization pathways of amorphous bismuth ferrite films could be tuned by controlled electron beam irradiation and <i>in situ</i> heatin ...[more]

PMID: 35540301

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Project description:Laser pulse processing of surfaces and thin films is a useful tool for amorphous thin films crystallization, surface nanostructuring, phase transformation and modification of physical properties of thin films. Here we show the effects of nanostructuring produced at the surface and under the surface of amorphous GeTiO films through laser pulses using fluences of 10-30 mJ/cm(2). The GeTiO films were obtained by RF magnetron sputtering with 50:50 initial atomic ratio of Ge:TiO2. Laser irradiation was performed by using the fourth harmonic (266 nm) of a Nd:YAG laser. The laser-induced nanostructuring results in two effects, the first one is the appearance of a wave-like topography at the film surface, with a periodicity of 200 nm and the second one is the structure modification of a layer under the film surface, at a depth that is related to the absorption length of the laser radiation. The periodicity of the wave-like relief is smaller than the laser wavelength. In the modified layer, the Ge atoms are segregated in spherical amorphous nanoparticles as a result of the fast diffusion of Ge atoms in the amorphous GeTiO matrix. The temperature estimation of the film surface during the laser pulses shows a maximum of about 500 °C, which is much lower than the melting temperature of the GeTiO matrix. GeO gas is formed at laser fluences higher than 20 mJ/cm(2) and produces nanovoids in the laser-modified layer at the film surface. A glass transition at low temperatures could happen in the amorphous GeTiO film, which explains the formation of the wave-like topography. The very high Ge diffusivity during the laser pulse action, which is characteristic for liquids, cannot be reached in a viscous matrix. Our experiments show that the diffusivity of atomic and molecular species such as Ge and GeO is very much enhanced in the presence of the laser pulse field. Consequently, the fast diffusion drives the formation of amorphous Ge nanoparticles through the segregation of Ge atoms in the GeTiO matrix. The nanostructuring effects induced by the laser irradiation can be used in functionalizing the surface of the films.

Dataset Information

In situ tuning of crystallization pathways by electron beam irradiation and heating in amorphous bismuth ferrite films.

Publications

<i>In situ</i> tuning of crystallization pathways by electron beam irradiation and heating in amorphous bismuth ferrite films.

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