Mg segregation in Mg-rich Mg-Ni switchable mirror studied by Rutherford backscattering, elastic recoil detection analysis, and nuclear reaction analysis

Journal Article · Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 2009 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3267481· OSTI ID:21359390

Sekiba, D ^[1]; Horikoshi, M; Abe, S; Ishii, S ^[1]

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1. Tandem Accelerator Complex, Research Facility Center for Science and Technology, University of Tsukuba, Tennodai 1-1-1, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577 (Japan)

Pd/Mg{sub 3.3}Ni films were prepared by dc sputtering deposition on three different substrates of glass, diamondlike carbon/Si, and Si. Hydrogenation and dehydrogenation cycles were performed on these samples simultaneously. The optical switching property due to the hydrogenation and dehydrogenation was monitored by the transmission of laser light via the glass substrate. The switching ability was totally lost after 120 cycles. We made comparative study of the composition change between the new (as-deposited) and old (after 120 switching cycles) samples by Rutherford backscattering (RBS), elastic recoil detection analysis (ERDA), and nuclear reaction analysis (NRA). From the RBS results we found out the segregation of a Mg layer between the Pd cap layer and the rest of the Mg-Ni layer. At the Pd/Mg interface in the old sample, thin MgO layer formed probably during the dehydrogenation process with O{sub 2}. ERDA showed that there is much hydrogen in the old sample. NRA displayed the depth profiles of hydrogen distribution in the old sample. It is revealed that much hydrogen is accumulated at the interface between the Pd cap layer and the segregated Mg layer. It can be concluded that the formations of oxide and hydride of the segregated Mg layer are the main reasons for the degradation of the Mg{sub 3.3}Ni switchable mirror.

• OSTI ID: 21359390
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 106, Issue 11; Other Information: DOI: 10.1063/1.3267481; (c) 2009 American Institute of Physics; ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
CARBON
DEHYDROGENATION
DEPOSITION
GLASS
HYDRIDES
HYDROGEN
HYDROGENATION
ION MICROPROBE ANALYSIS
LAYERS
MAGNESIUM ALLOYS
MAGNESIUM OXIDES
NICKEL ALLOYS
NUCLEAR REACTION ANALYSIS
PALLADIUM
RUTHERFORD BACKSCATTERING SPECTROSCOPY
SEGREGATION
SPUTTERING
SUBSTRATES
THIN FILMS
ALKALINE EARTH METAL COMPOUNDS
ALLOYS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
ELEMENTS
FILMS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MAGNESIUM COMPOUNDS
METALS
MICROANALYSIS
NONDESTRUCTIVE ANALYSIS
NONMETALS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLATINUM METALS
SPECTROSCOPY
TRANSITION ELEMENT ALLOYS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS