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Compositional Patterning in Carbon Implanted Titania Nanotubes
Author(s) -
Kupferer Astrid,
Holm Alexander,
Lotnyk Andriy,
Mändl Stephan,
Mayr Stefan G.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.202104250
Subject(s) - materials science , carbon nanotube , nanotube , density functional theory , transmission electron microscopy , nanotechnology , crystallization , amorphous solid , sputtering , carbon fibers , chemical physics , thin film , chemical engineering , composite material , crystallography , computational chemistry , chemistry , physics , composite number , engineering
Ranging from novel solar cells to smart biosensors, titania nanotube arrays constitute a highly functional material for various applications. A promising route to modify material characteristics while preserving the amorphous nanotube structure is present when applying low‐energy ion implantation. In this study, the interplay of phenomenological effects observed upon implantation of low fluences in the unique 3D structure is reported: sputtering versus readsorption and plastic flow, amorphization versus crystallization and compositional patterning. Patterning within the oxygen and carbon subsystem is revealed using transmission electron microscopy. By applying a Cahn–Hilliard approach within the framework of driven alloys, characteristic length scales are derived and it is demonstrated that compositional patterning is expected on free enthalpy grounds, as predicted by density functional theory based ab initio calculations. Hence, an attractive material with increased conductivity for advanced devices is provided.