Self-assembled growth of Ni nanoparticles in amorphous alumina matrix

• Published in: Journal of nanoparticle research : an interdisciplinary forum for nanoscale science and technology Vol. 16; no. 3; pp. 1 - 10
• Main Authors: Jerčinović, M., Radić, N., Buljan, M., Grenzer, J., Delač-Marion, I., Kralj, M., Bogdanović-Radović, I., Hübner, R., Dubček, P., Salamon, K., Bernstorff, S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-03-2014; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aluminum oxide; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Deposition; Deposition by sputtering; Equations of state, phase equilibria, and phase transitions; Exact sciences and technology; Inorganic Chemistry; Lasers; Materials Science; Metal particles; Methods of deposition of films and coatings; film growth and epitaxy; Methods of nanofabrication; Multilayers; Nanocrystalline materials; Nanoparticles; Nanoscale materials and structures: fabrication and characterization; Nanotechnology; Nickel; Optical Devices; Optics; Order disorder; Photonics; Physical Chemistry; Physics; Research Paper; Self assembly; Silica; Specific phase transitions; Structural transitions in nanoscale materials; Ni nanoparticles; GISAXS; Self-assembly; Al; Nanocomposites; O; Order-disorder transformations; Particle size; Surface morphology; Particle separation; Layer thickness; Silica; Surface effect; Nanoparticles; Cathode sputtering; Metallic thin films; Growth mechanism; Physical vapor deposition; Ordering; Sputter deposition; Alumina; Nanostructured materials; Nanocrystal
• ISSN: 1388-0764; 1572-896X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11051-014-2296-3

We present the formation of an ordered three-dimensional lattice of Ni nanocrystals in an amorphous alumina matrix by a self-assembly process. The self-assembled growth achieved by single-step magnetron sputtering deposition of a Ni/Al
2
O
3
multilayer is driven by surface morphology effects. The influence of the Ni layer thickness on the Ni particle size, separation, and quality of ordering is examined. The quality of Ni nanoparticles ordering in alumina is compared to their ordering in a silica matrix. The obtained results are important for the understanding of the self-assembly process of metallic particles in amorphous matrices and the applications of such materials.