Andrejs Petruhins

Effect of Ti-Al cathode composition on plasma generation and plasma transport in direct current vacuum arc

DC arc plasma from Ti, Al, and Ti1-xAlx (x = 0.16, 0.25, 0.50, and 0.70) compound cathodes was characterized with respect to plasma chemistry and charge-state-resolved ion energy. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy of the deposited films and the cathode surfaces were used for exploring the correlation between cathode-, plasma-, and film composition. Experimental work was performed at a base pressure of 10−6 Torr, to exclude plasma-gas interaction. The plasma ion composition showed a reduction of Al of approximately 5 at. % compared to the cathode composition, while deposited films were in accordance with the cathode stoichiometry. This may be explained by presence of neutrals in the plasma/vapour phase. The average ion charge states (Ti = 2.2, Al = 1.65) were consistent with reference data for elemental cathodes, and approximately independent on the cathode composition. On the contrary, the width of the ion energy distributions (IEDs) were drastically...

Magnetic Anisotropy in the (Cr0.5Mn0.5)2GaC MAX Phase

Magnetic MAX phase (Cr0.5Mn0.5)2GaC thin films grown epitaxially on MgO(111) substrates were studied by ferromagnetic resonance at temperatures between 110 and 300 K. The spectroscopic splitting factor g = 2.00 ± 0.01 measured at all temperatures indicates pure spin magnetism in the sample. At all temperatures we find the magnetocrystalline anisotropy energy to be negligible which is in agreement with the identified pure spin magnetism.

Toward Structural Optimization of MAX Phases as Epitaxial Thin Films

Prompted by the increased focus on MAX phase materials and their two-dimensional counterparts MXenes, a brief review of the current state of affairs in the synthesis of MAX phases as epitaxial thin films is given. Current methods for synthesis are discussed and suggestions are given on how to increase the material quality even further as well as arrive at those conditions faster. Samples were prepared to exemplify the most common issues involved with the synthesis, and through suggested paths for resolving these issues we attain samples of a quality beyond what has previously been reported. Impact Statement: We aim to address the quality of MAX phase thin films and suggest a more robust route for the synthesis of samples of consistent reproducible quality.

Generation of super-size macroparticles in a direct current vacuum arc discharge from a Mo-Cu cathode

An inherent property of cathodic arc is the generation of macroparticles, of a typical size ranging from submicrometer up to a few tens of μm. In this work, we have studied macroparticle generation from a Mo0.78Cu0.22 cathode used in a dc vacuum arc discharge, and we present evidence for super-size macroparticles of up to 0.7 mm in diameter. All analyzed particles are found to be rich in Mo (≥98 at. %). The particle generation is studied by visual observation of the cathode surface during arcing, by analysis of composition and geometrical features of the used cathode surface, and by examination of the generated macroparticles with respect to shape and composition. A mechanism for super-size macroparticle generation is suggested based on observed segregated layers of Mo and Cu identified in the topmost part of the cathode surface, likely due to the discrepancy in melting and evaporation temperatures of Mo and Cu. The results are of importance for increasing the fundamental understanding of macroparticle ge...

Thermally induced substitutional reaction of Fe into Mo2GaC thin films

ABSTRACT The first Fe-based MAX phase is realized by solid-state substitution reaction of an Fe/Au/Mo2GaC thin-film diffusion couple, as determined by X-ray diffraction and scanning transmission electron microscopy. Chemical analysis together with elemental mapping reveals that as much as 50 at.% Fe on the A site can be obtained by thermally induced Au and Fe substitution for Ga atomic layers in Mo2GaC. One-sixth of the original Ga is also replaced by Au atoms. When annealing Mo2GaC thin films covered with Fe only, the Mo2GaC phase remains intact, that is, Au acts as a catalyst for the substitution reaction. IMPACT STATEMENT The first direct evidence showing Fe-containing MAX phase, Mo2AC, with Fe ∼50 at.% on the A sites is presented, synthesized by thermally induced Fe and Au substitution reaction catalyzed by Au. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Vacuum arc plasma generation and thin film deposition from a TiB2 cathode

We have studied the utilization of TiB2 cathodes for thin film deposition in a DC vacuum arc system. We present a route for attaining a stable, reproducible, and fully ionized plasma flux of Ti and B by removal of the external magnetic field, which leads to dissipation of the vacuum arc discharge and an increased active surface area of the cathode. Applying a magnetic field resulted in instability and cracking, consistent with the previous reports. Plasma analysis shows average energies of 115 and 26 eV, average ion charge states of 2.1 and 1.1 for Ti and B, respectively, and a plasma ion composition of approximately 50% Ti and 50% B. This is consistent with measured resulting film composition from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, suggesting a negligible contribution of neutrals and macroparticles to the film growth. Also, despite the observations of macroparticle generation, the film surface is very smooth. These results are of importance for the utilization of cathodic arc as a method for synthesis of ...

Magnetic properties and structural characterization of layered (Cr0.5Mn0.5)2AuC synthesized by thermally induced substitutional reaction in (Cr0.5Mn0.5)2GaC

The magnetic properties of the new phase (Cr0.5Mn0.5)2AuC are compared to the known MAX-phase (Cr0.5Mn0.5)2GaC, where the former was synthesized by thermally induced substitution reaction of Au for Ga in (Cr0.5Mn0.5)2GaC. The reaction introduced a lattice expansion of ∼3% along the c-axis, an enhancement of the coercive field from 30 mT to 140 mT, and a reduction of the Curie temperature and the saturation magnetization. Still, (Cr0.5Mn0.5)2AuC displays similar features in the magnetic field- and temperature-dependent magnetization curves as previously reported magnetic MAX phases, e.g., (Cr0.5Mn0.5)2GaC and (Mo0.5Mn0.5)2GaC. The work suggests a pathway for tuning the magnetic properties of MAX phases.

Large uniaxial magnetostriction with sign inversion at the first order phase transition in the nanolaminated Mn2GaC MAX phase

In 2013, a new class of inherently nanolaminated magnetic materials, the so called magnetic MAX phases, was discovered. Following predictive material stability calculations, the hexagonal Mn2GaC compound was synthesized as hetero-epitaxial films containing Mn as the exclusive M-element. Recent theoretical and experimental studies suggested a high magnetic ordering temperature and non-collinear antiferromagnetic (AFM) spin states as a result of competitive ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic exchange interactions. In order to assess the potential for practical applications of Mn2GaC, we have studied the temperature-dependent magnetization, and the magnetoresistive, magnetostrictive as well as magnetocaloric properties of the compound. The material exhibits two magnetic phase transitions. The Néel temperature is TN  ~ 507 K, at which the system changes from a collinear AFM state to the paramagnetic state. At Tt = 214 K the material undergoes a first order magnetic phase transition from AFM at higher temperature to a non-collinear AFM spin structure. Both states show large uniaxial c-axis magnetostriction of 450 ppm. Remarkably, the magnetostriction changes sign, being compressive (negative) above Tt and tensile (positive) below the Tt. The sign change of the magnetostriction is accompanied by a sign change in the magnetoresistance indicating a coupling among the spin, lattice and electrical transport properties.

Synthesis and characterization of magnetic nanolaminated carbides

MAX phases are a group of nanolaminated ternary carbides and nitrides, with a composition expressed by the general formula Mn+1AXn (𝑛 = 1 − 3), where M is a transition metal, A is an A-group eleme ...

Origin of Chemically Ordered Atomic Laminates (i-MAX): Expanding the Elemental Space by a Theoretical/Experimental Approach

With increased chemical diversity and structural complexity comes the opportunities for innovative materials possessing advantageous properties. Herein, we combine predictive first-principles calculations with experimental synthesis, to explore the origin of formation of the atomically laminated i-MAX phases. By probing (Mo2/3 M1/32)2 AC (where M2 = Sc, Y and A = Al, Ga, In, Si, Ge, In), we predict seven stable i-MAX phases, five of which should have a retained stability at high temperatures. (Mo2/3Sc1/3)2GaC and (Mo2/3Y1/3)2GaC were experimentally verified, displaying the characteristic in-plane chemical order of Mo and Sc/Y and Kagomé-like ordering of the A-element. We suggest that the formation of i-MAX phases requires a significantly different size of the two metals, and a preferable smaller size of the A-element. Furthermore, the population of antibonding orbitals should be minimized, which for the metals herein (Mo and Sc/Y) means that A-elements from Group 13 (Al, Ga, In) are favored over Group 14 (Si, Ge, Sn). Using these guidelines, we foresee a widening of elemental space for the family of i-MAX phases and expect more phases to be synthesized, which will realize useful properties. Furthermore, based on i-MAX phases as parent materials for 2D MXenes, we also expect that the range of MXene compositions will be expanded.