Microstructure and composition evolution of He charged solid-gas nanocomposite films of different matrix elements during thermal annealing in vacuum

Abstract Sputtering of cobalt, silicon and zirconium in a helium magnetron discharge (MS) is reported as a bottom-up procedure to obtain He-charged films (i.e. 4He and 3He filled nanopores encapsulated in the matrix material). Composition and microstructural analyses are presented from ion beam anal...

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Main Authors: Asunción Fernández, M. Carmen Jiménez de Haro, Dirk Hufschmidt, Olga Montes, Thierry Sauvage, F. Javier Ferrer, Amaël Caillard, Pascal Brault, Anne-Lise Thomann
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06889-8
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author Asunción Fernández
M. Carmen Jiménez de Haro
Dirk Hufschmidt
Olga Montes
Thierry Sauvage
F. Javier Ferrer
Amaël Caillard
Pascal Brault
Anne-Lise Thomann
author_facet Asunción Fernández
M. Carmen Jiménez de Haro
Dirk Hufschmidt
Olga Montes
Thierry Sauvage
F. Javier Ferrer
Amaël Caillard
Pascal Brault
Anne-Lise Thomann
author_sort Asunción Fernández
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Sputtering of cobalt, silicon and zirconium in a helium magnetron discharge (MS) is reported as a bottom-up procedure to obtain He-charged films (i.e. 4He and 3He filled nanopores encapsulated in the matrix material). Composition and microstructural analyses are presented from ion beam analysis (IBA) and scanning and transmission electron microscopies (SEM and TEM). Helium desorption was investigated by IBA in a dedicated chamber for “in situ” thermal evolution in vacuum. The simultaneous recording of the helium and matrix-element signals shows different behaviors of the different matrix elements (i.e. Co, Si and Zr) and deposition conditions (i.e., DC or RF discharge modes and dynamic or quasistatic vacuum). Effusion, blistering, delamination and flaking have been observed for the different samples leading to the formation of nano-porous/nanostructured thin films. The methodology is being envisaged as a process for nanostructured thin-films fabrication with potential applications.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-a156730c375e483dbc263abff709f4ca2025-08-20T04:01:24ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111410.1038/s41598-025-06889-8Microstructure and composition evolution of He charged solid-gas nanocomposite films of different matrix elements during thermal annealing in vacuumAsunción Fernández0M. Carmen Jiménez de Haro1Dirk Hufschmidt2Olga Montes3Thierry Sauvage4F. Javier Ferrer5Amaël Caillard6Pascal Brault7Anne-Lise Thomann8Institute of Materials Science of Seville (CSIC-Univ. Seville)Institute of Materials Science of Seville (CSIC-Univ. Seville)Institute of Materials Science of Seville (CSIC-Univ. Seville)Institute of Materials Science of Seville (CSIC-Univ. Seville)CEMHTI Laboratory, CNRS-UPR3079National Center of Accelerators, CNA (Univ. Seville, J. Andalucía, CSIC)CNRS, GREMI-UMR7344CNRS, GREMI-UMR7344CNRS, GREMI-UMR7344Abstract Sputtering of cobalt, silicon and zirconium in a helium magnetron discharge (MS) is reported as a bottom-up procedure to obtain He-charged films (i.e. 4He and 3He filled nanopores encapsulated in the matrix material). Composition and microstructural analyses are presented from ion beam analysis (IBA) and scanning and transmission electron microscopies (SEM and TEM). Helium desorption was investigated by IBA in a dedicated chamber for “in situ” thermal evolution in vacuum. The simultaneous recording of the helium and matrix-element signals shows different behaviors of the different matrix elements (i.e. Co, Si and Zr) and deposition conditions (i.e., DC or RF discharge modes and dynamic or quasistatic vacuum). Effusion, blistering, delamination and flaking have been observed for the different samples leading to the formation of nano-porous/nanostructured thin films. The methodology is being envisaged as a process for nanostructured thin-films fabrication with potential applications.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06889-8Helium assisted magnetron sputtering of Co, Si and Zr4He and 3He charged thin filmsHelium release by thermal annealingNanobubbles and nanoporesMicrostructural characterizationIBA analysis
spellingShingle Asunción Fernández
M. Carmen Jiménez de Haro
Dirk Hufschmidt
Olga Montes
Thierry Sauvage
F. Javier Ferrer
Amaël Caillard
Pascal Brault
Anne-Lise Thomann
Microstructure and composition evolution of He charged solid-gas nanocomposite films of different matrix elements during thermal annealing in vacuum
Scientific Reports
Helium assisted magnetron sputtering of Co, Si and Zr
4He and 3He charged thin films
Helium release by thermal annealing
Nanobubbles and nanopores
Microstructural characterization
IBA analysis
title Microstructure and composition evolution of He charged solid-gas nanocomposite films of different matrix elements during thermal annealing in vacuum
title_full Microstructure and composition evolution of He charged solid-gas nanocomposite films of different matrix elements during thermal annealing in vacuum
title_fullStr Microstructure and composition evolution of He charged solid-gas nanocomposite films of different matrix elements during thermal annealing in vacuum
title_full_unstemmed Microstructure and composition evolution of He charged solid-gas nanocomposite films of different matrix elements during thermal annealing in vacuum
title_short Microstructure and composition evolution of He charged solid-gas nanocomposite films of different matrix elements during thermal annealing in vacuum
title_sort microstructure and composition evolution of he charged solid gas nanocomposite films of different matrix elements during thermal annealing in vacuum
topic Helium assisted magnetron sputtering of Co, Si and Zr
4He and 3He charged thin films
Helium release by thermal annealing
Nanobubbles and nanopores
Microstructural characterization
IBA analysis
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06889-8
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