Low-energy cluster beam deposition

Here we present some results concerning the role that ion irradiation has in 1. modifying cluster assembled carbon thin films obtained by low energy cluster beam deposition (LECBD) and containing a cabynoid component and 2. producing carbynoid-like materials after irradiation of solid frozen benzene and of asphaltite, a natural bitumen. 

LCAO LD TOP LECBD LED LIP LUMO linear combination of atomic orbitals laser-desorption time-of-flight low energy cluster beam deposition light-emitting diode laser-induced fluorescence lowest unoccupied molecular orbital... 

The low-energy cluster beam deposition setup at the Universitat Karlsruhe consists of three differential pumping stages as shown in Figure 3.20. Their source produces ions through electron impact induced ionization/desorption of powder in a... 

Several techniques have been applied for the production of preformed clusters in the gas phase, prior to their deposition onto a substrate. The low-energy cluster beam deposition technique was developed especially for the deposition of small clusters of transition metals (Ni, Fe, Co, etc.) [3.152]. An extensive review of this vast subject can be found in [3.153]. 

The growth of films via SCBD can be viewed as a random stacking of particles as for ballistic deposition [33,34]. The resulting material is characterized by a low density compared to that of the films assembled atom by atom and it shows different degrees of order depending on the scale of observation. The characteristic length scales are determined by cluster dimensions and by their fate after deposition. Carbon cluster beams are characterized by the presence of a finite mass distribution and by the presence of different isomers with different stabilities and relativities. Due to the low kinetic energy of clusters in the supersonic expansion stable clusters can survive to the deposition, while reactive isomers can coalesce to form a more disordered phase [35]. 

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