Hydrogen Determination in Solids by ERDA

Bruder and Brenn (1992) studied the spinodal decomposition in thin films of a blend of deuterated polystyrene (dPS) and poly(styrene-co-4-bromostyrene) (PBrxS) by TOF-ERDA. They examined the effect of different substrates on the decomposition process. In one series of experiments, a solution of the polymers in toluene was spread on a silicon wafer to form a film of thickness 550 nm which was then heated in vacuum at 180°C for various times. 

Lateral structures were observed after 40 min of annealing, when typical spinodally decomposed structures were apparent. After 315 min the mean diameter of the dPS particles has reached the film thickness, and for larger times, two-dimensional domain growth takes place. 

The base side of the photographs = 35 pm. (a) 40min (b) 157min (c) 315min and (d) 6175min. 

2 Heavy-Ion ERDA for Measurement of Cr Dopant in Thin Films of / -FeSi2 

Bohne et al. (2000) have employed heavy-ion TOF-ERDA to analyse Cr when used as a p-type dopant in FeSi2 films. Cr and Fe have similar masses, and these authors show that heavy-ion ERDA is a powerful tool in this context, being superior to RBS. 

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