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Fabrication of size-selected bimetallic nanoclusters using magnetron sputtering

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 July 2012

Ahmad I. Ayesh ,
Naser Qamhieh ,
Saleh T. Mahmoud  and
Hussain Alawadhi
Ahmad I. Ayesh*
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
Naser Qamhieh
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
Saleh T. Mahmoud
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
Hussain Alawadhi
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Physics, University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
*
a)Address all correspondence to this author. e-mail: ayesh@uaeu.ac.ae
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Abstract

Copper–tin (CuxSn1−x) nanocluster is a promising system for gas sensing applications, mainly because of its sensitivity and selectivity for H2S. In this work, pure Sn and Cu as well as composite CuxSn1−x nanoclusters were synthesized using the dc magnetron sputtering gas condensation technique. Nanoclusters with different Sn to Cu ratios were produced by changing the ratio of Sn and Cu in the target. The dependence of Sn, Cu, and CuxSn1−x nanoclusters’ size distribution on various source parameters, such as the inert gas flow rate and aggregation length, has been investigated in detail. The results show that as the inert gas flow rate increases, the mean nanocluster size increases for Sn, decreases for Cu, while increases and then decreases for CuxSn1−x. The results could be understood in terms of the contribution percentage of the nanocluster formation mechanism. Furthermore, this work demonstrates the ability of tuning the CuxSn1−x nanoclusters’ size and composition by a proper optimization of the source operation conditions.

Keywords

CuxSn1-x nanoclusterssputteringnanocluster size selectioninert gas condensationnanocluster formation mechanism
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Materials Research , Volume 27 , Issue 18 , 28 September 2012 , pp. 2441 - 2446
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2012

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