Papers by Author: Udo Geckle

Abstract: Studies of self-diffusion in solids are presented, which are based on neutron reflectometry. For the application of this technique the samples under investigation are prepared in form of isotope heterostructures. These are nanometer sized thin films, which are chemically completely homogenous, but isotope modulated. Using this method, diffusion lengths in the order of 1 nm and below can be detected which allows to determine ultra low diffusivities in the order of 10-25 m2/s. For the model system amorphous silicon nitride we demonstrate how the structure of the isotope hetrostructures (triple layers or multilayers) influences the efficiency of diffusivity determination.

Abstract: The self-diffusion of nitrogen is studied in amorphous silicon nitride, which is a model system for a covalently bound amorphous solid with a low atomic mobility where reliable diffusion data are still lacking. Comparative experiments on Si14Nx/Si15Nx (x ≈ 1.33) isotope multilayers were carried out with secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and neutron reflectometry (NR), respectively. It was found that experiments with SIMS are not very well suited for the determination of diffusivities in a broad temperature range. The minimum diffusion length of about 5-10 nm detectable with this method is too large. At high temperatures (> 1200 °C) the amorphous solid crystallizes before any diffusion is measured and at low temperatures (< 1100 °C) the diffusivities are too low to be detected. In contrast, with neutron reflectometry diffusion lengths in the order of 1 nm and diffusivities down to 10-24 m2 s-1 were measured between 950 and 1250 °C. The potential of this method for the determination of ultra slow diffusion processes is discussed.