Analysis of Temperature-Dependent Surface Properties in the Ni/SiO2/Si System During Electron Beam Deposition
Abstract
In this study, we investigated the morphological properties of nickel (Ni) island-shaped thin films formed on a SiOx/Si substrate using the electron beam evaporation method. The morphology was examined using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). SEM images were analyzed with the help of ImageJ software to determine the size, density, distribution, and coverage ratio of the islands. The results showed a strong dependence of island morphology on substrate temperature: at 20 °C, the islands had an irregular shape with a density of 103 µm⁻², while at 250 °C and 500 °C, the islands became more spherical in shape, and their densities increased to 751.8 and 1212.4 µm⁻², respectively. AFM analysis confirmed the uniform distribution of the islands and their average height (15.4 nm). EDS analysis revealed the presence and uniform distribution of Si, O, and Ni elements on the surface. These findings confirm that substrate temperature is a critical factor in the island formation process.
Downloads
References
J. Cheng, X. Zhang, and Y. Ye, “Synthesis of nickel nanoparticles and carbon encapsulated nickel nanoparticles supported on carbon nanotubes,” Journal of Solid-State Chemistry, 179(1), 91-95 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jssc.2005.10.001
J. Xia, G. He, L. Zhang, X. Sun, and X. Wang, “Hydrogenation of nitrophenols catalyzed by carbon black-supported nickel nanoparticles under mild conditions,” Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 180, 408-415 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2015.06.043
A. Singh, S.L. Chang, R.K. Hocking, U. Bach, and L. Spiccia, “Highly active nickel oxide water oxidation catalysts deposited from molecular complexes,” Energy & Environmental Science, 6(2), 579-586 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1039/C2EE23862D
J. Mroziński, “New trends of molecular magnetism,” Coordination chemistry reviews, 249(21-22), 2534-2548 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccr.2005.05.013
R. Poulain, G. Lumbeeck, J. Hunka, J. Proost, H. Savolainen, H. Idrissi, et al., “Electronic and chemical properties of nickel oxide thin films and the intrinsic defects compensation mechanism,” ACS Applied Electronic Materials, 4(6), 2718-2728 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1021/acsaelm.2c00230
S. Nadaf, G.K. Jena, N. Rarokar, N. Gurav, M. Ayyanar, S. Prasad, and S. Gurav, “Biogenic and biomimetic functionalized magnetic nanosystem: Synthesis, properties, and biomedical applications,” Hybrid Advances, 3, 100038 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hybadv.2023.100038
D. Zhou, X. Guo, Q. Zhang, Y. Shi, H. Zhang, C. Yu, and H. Pang, “Nickel‐based materials for advanced rechargeable batteries,” Advanced Functional Materials, 32(12), 2107928 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202107928
S.G. Danjumma, Y. Abubakar, and S. Suleiman, “Nickel oxide (NiO) devices and applications: a review,” J. Eng. Res. Technol, 8, 12-21 (2019). https://doi.org/10.17577/IJERTV8IS040281
B. Han, B. Yu, J. Wang, M. Liu, G. Gao, K. Xia, et al., “Understanding the electronic metal-support interactions of the supported Ni cluster for the catalytic hydrogenation of ethylene,” Molecular Catalysis, 511, 111731 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mcat.2021.111731
Z. Shang, S. Li, L. Li, G. Liu, and X. Liang, “Highly active and stable alumina supported nickel nanoparticle catalysts for dry reforming of methane,” Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 201, 302-309 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2016.08.019
L. Liu, and A. Corma, “Metal catalysts for heterogeneous catalysis: from single atoms to nanoclusters and nanoparticles,” Chemical reviews, 118(10), 4981-5079 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.7b00776.
T.K. Turdaliev, K.B. Ashurov, and R.K. Ashurov, “Morphology and Optical Characteristics of TiO2 Nanofilms Grown by Atomic-Layer Deposition on a Macroporous Silicon Substrate,” Journal of Applied Spectroscopy, 91(4), 769-774 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10812-024-01783-z
I.J. Abdisaidov, S.G. Gulomjanova, I.K. Khudaykulov, and K.B. Ashurov, “The Low-Temperature Growth of Carbon Nanotubes Using Nickel Catalyst,” East European Journal of Physics, (3), 355-358 (2024). https://doi.org/10.26565/2312-4334-2024-3-41
F.A. Silva, V.M.M. Salim and T.S. Rodrigues, “Controlled Nickel Nanoparticles: A Review on How Parameters of Synthesis Can Modulate Their Features and Properties,” Applied Chem. 4(1), 86-106 (2024). https://doi.org/10.3390/appliedchem4010007
P. Camilos, C. Varvenne, and C. Mottet, “Size and shape effects on chemical ordering in Ni–Pt nanoalloys,” Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 26(21), 15192-15204 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1039/D4CP00979G
A.S. Al-Fatesh, N.A. Bamatraf, S.B. Alreshaidan, J.K. Abu-Dahrieh, N. Patel, A.A. Ibrahim, et al., “Cost-effective single-step synthesis of metal oxide-supported Ni catalyst for H2-production through dry reforming of methane,” Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, 49(6), 8031-8047 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-023-08576-0
S. Mehravar, B.M. Garmejani, and S. Fatemi, “Nickel-Deposited Hexagonal Boron Nitride Composites via Chemical Vapor Deposition: Unlocking Enhanced Magnetic Properties for Advanced Technologies,” Journal of Materials Chemistry C, 13, 6823-6830 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1039/D4TC05281A
X. Chen, Z. Li, Y. Zhao, C. Qi, S. Li, and F. Li, “Wetting and interfacial phenomena between a Ni-based superalloy and silica-based ceramic cores with ZrSiO4 additions,” Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 2671(1), 012025 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/2671/1/012025
B.C. Bayer, D.A. Bosworth, F.B. Michaelis, R. Blume, G. Habler, R. Abart, et al., “In situ observations of phase transitions in metastable nickel (carbide)/carbon nanocomposites,” The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 120(39), 22571-22584 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.6b01555
Copyright (c) 2025 A.A. Rakhimov, I.Kh. Khudaykulov, A.A. Ismatov, M.M. Adilov
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
