Pulsed laser deposition to synthesize the bridge structure of artificial nacre: Comparison of nano- and femtosecond lasers

Journal Article · Thu Nov 15 00:00:00 EST 2012 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4765734· OSTI ID:22089549

Melaibari, Ammar A. ^[1]; Molian, Pal ^[1]

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1. Laboratory for Lasers, MEMS and Nanotechnology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011 (United States)

Nature offers inspiration to new adaptive technologies that allow us to build amazing shapes and structures such as nacre using synthetic materials. Consequently, we have designed a pulsed laser ablation manufacturing process involving thin film deposition and micro-machining to create hard/soft layered 'brick-bridge-mortar' nacre of AlMgB{sub 14} (hard phase) with Ti (soft phase). In this paper, we report pulsed laser deposition (PLD) to mimic brick and bridge structures of natural nacre in AlMgB{sub 14}. Particulate formation inherent in PLD is exploited to develop the bridge structure. Mechanical behavior analysis of the AlMgB{sub 14}/Ti system revealed that the brick is to be 250 nm thick, 9 {mu}m lateral dimensions while the bridge (particle) is to have a diameter of 500 nm for a performance equivalent to natural nacre. Both nanosecond (ns) and femtosecond (fs) pulsed lasers were employed for PLD in an iterative approach that involves varying pulse energy, pulse repetition rate, and target-to-substrate distance to achieve the desired brick and bridge characteristics. Scanning electron microscopy, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and optical profilometer were used to evaluate the film thickness, particle size and density, stoichiometry, and surface roughness of thin films. Results indicated that both ns-pulsed and fs-pulsed lasers produce the desired nacre features. However, each laser may be chosen for different reasons: fs-pulsed laser is preferred for much shorter deposition time, better stoichiometry, uniform-sized particles, and uniform film thickness, while ns-pulsed laser is favored for industrial acceptance, reliability, ease of handling, and low cost.

• OSTI ID: 22089549
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 112, Issue 10; Other Information: (c) 2012 American Institute of Physics; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ABLATION
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
BORON COMPOUNDS
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
ENERGY BEAM DEPOSITION
ITERATIVE METHODS
LASER RADIATION
MAGNESIUM COMPOUNDS
PARTICLE SIZE
PULSED IRRADIATION
REINFORCED MATERIALS
RELIABILITY
SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
STOICHIOMETRY
SUBSTRATES
SURFACES
SYNTHETIC MATERIALS
THIN FILMS
TITANIUM
X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY