Evolution of Crystallinity and Texturing on 120 MeV Au Ion Irradiation on NiO Thin Films

Abstract

NiO thin films grown on Si(100) substrate by electron beam evaporation and sintered at 500 °C and 700 °C were irradiated with 120 MeV 197Au9+ ions. The FCC structure of the sintered films was retained up to the highest fluence (3 × l013 ions.cm-2) of irradiation. As against the expected amorphization due to ion irradiation when electronic energy loss exceeds certain threshold value, we observe an improvement of crystallinity and grain orientation at certain fluences of irradiation. © 2008 American Institute of Physics.