{"title":"Features of the Cluster-Ion Treatment of the Surface of a KGd(WO4)2:Nd Single Crystal","authors":"I. V. Nikolaev, N. G. Korobeishchikov","doi":"10.1134/S1027451024020137","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p>The features of the surface treatment of potassium-gadolinium-tungstate single crystals doped with neodymium ions by low- and high-energy argon cluster ions are considered. Two radically different treatment modes are employed: the low-energy mode for more efficient smoothing of the surface and high-energy for more effective etching of the target. The topography of the target surface is analyzed before and after cluster-ion treatment using atomic force microscopy. It is shown that treatment in the low-energy mode smoothes out irregularities on the target surface formed by chemical and mechanical polishing at an etching depth of less than 100 nm. A comparison is made of the root-mean-square roughness and total roughness of the initial and treated surfaces of potassium-gadolinium tungstate doped with neodymium ions. Survey X-ray photoelectron spectra of the initial surface of a KGd(WO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>:Nd single crystal and after cluster-ion treatment in various modes are presented. It is demonstrated that the intensities of the potassium and gadolinium peaks decrease after cluster-ion treatment in both modes. A significant decrease in the concentration of potassium atoms in the surface layer of the target is explained by the preferential sputtering of potassium as a lighter chemical element. The mutual decrease in the concentrations of gadolinium and potassium atoms can be explained by the weak bonds of these atoms in the lattice of the KGd(WO<sub>4</sub>)<sub>2</sub>:Nd single crystal.</p>","PeriodicalId":671,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Surface Investigation: X-ray, Synchrotron and Neutron Techniques","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.5000,"publicationDate":"2024-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Surface Investigation: X-ray, Synchrotron and Neutron Techniques","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://link.springer.com/article/10.1134/S1027451024020137","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q4","JCRName":"PHYSICS, CONDENSED MATTER","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The features of the surface treatment of potassium-gadolinium-tungstate single crystals doped with neodymium ions by low- and high-energy argon cluster ions are considered. Two radically different treatment modes are employed: the low-energy mode for more efficient smoothing of the surface and high-energy for more effective etching of the target. The topography of the target surface is analyzed before and after cluster-ion treatment using atomic force microscopy. It is shown that treatment in the low-energy mode smoothes out irregularities on the target surface formed by chemical and mechanical polishing at an etching depth of less than 100 nm. A comparison is made of the root-mean-square roughness and total roughness of the initial and treated surfaces of potassium-gadolinium tungstate doped with neodymium ions. Survey X-ray photoelectron spectra of the initial surface of a KGd(WO4)2:Nd single crystal and after cluster-ion treatment in various modes are presented. It is demonstrated that the intensities of the potassium and gadolinium peaks decrease after cluster-ion treatment in both modes. A significant decrease in the concentration of potassium atoms in the surface layer of the target is explained by the preferential sputtering of potassium as a lighter chemical element. The mutual decrease in the concentrations of gadolinium and potassium atoms can be explained by the weak bonds of these atoms in the lattice of the KGd(WO4)2:Nd single crystal.
期刊介绍:
Journal of Surface Investigation: X-ray, Synchrotron and Neutron Techniques publishes original articles on the topical problems of solid-state physics, materials science, experimental techniques, condensed media, nanostructures, surfaces of thin films, and phase boundaries: geometric and energetical structures of surfaces, the methods of computer simulations; physical and chemical properties and their changes upon radiation and other treatments; the methods of studies of films and surface layers of crystals (XRD, XPS, synchrotron radiation, neutron and electron diffraction, electron microscopic, scanning tunneling microscopic, atomic force microscopic studies, and other methods that provide data on the surfaces and thin films). Articles related to the methods and technics of structure studies are the focus of the journal. The journal accepts manuscripts of regular articles and reviews in English or Russian language from authors of all countries. All manuscripts are peer-reviewed.