No description available.

<p>The work presented in this thesis concernes two sorts of nanostructures: energetic-ion-impact-induced surface tracks and gas-deposited WO₃ nanoparticles. Our aims to characterise these nanostuctures and understand the physical principles behind their formation are of general interests for basic science as well as of the field of nanotechnology.</p><p>AFM studies of irradiated organic surfaces showed that individual ion impacts generate craters, most often accompanied by raised plastically deformed regions. Crater sizes were measured as a function of ion stopping power and incidence angle on various surfaces. Observed crater volumes were converted into estimates of total sputtering yields, which in turn were correlated with data from collector experiments. The observations were compared to predictions of theoretical sputtering models. The observed plastic deformations above grazing-incidence-ion penetration paths agree with predictions of the pressure pulse model. However, closer to the ion track, evaporative sputtering can occur.</p><p>AFM images of gas-deposited WO₃ nanoparticle-films indicated the formation of agglomerates. The size distribution of the agglomerates was measured to be log-normal, <i>i.e.</i> similar to the size distribution of the gas-phase nanoparticles forming the deposit. By simulations we could relatively well reproduce this observation. The agglomerates exhibited high thermal stability below 250°C when considering their size, implying that these porous films can be useful in applications involving elevated temperatures in the 250°C range. The appearance of the nanoparticles in the tapping-mode AFM images was sensitive to the free amplitude of the oscillating tip. We could show by model calculations that the high adhesion between the tip and the sample could account for some of these observations.</p>

The work presented in this thesis concernes two sorts of nanostructures: energetic-ion-impact-induced surface tracks and gas-deposited WO3 nanoparticles. Our aims to characterise these nanostuctures and understand the physical principles behind their formation are of general interests for basic science as well as of the field of nanotechnology. AFM studies of irradiated organic surfaces showed that individual ion impacts generate craters, most often accompanied by raised plastically deformed regions. Crater sizes were measured as a function of ion stopping power and incidence angle on various surfaces. Observed crater volumes were converted into estimates of total sputtering yields, which in turn were correlated with data from collector experiments. The observations were compared to predictions of theoretical sputtering models. The observed plastic deformations above grazing-incidence-ion penetration paths agree with predictions of the pressure pulse model. However, closer to the ion track, evaporative sputtering can occur. AFM images of gas-deposited WO3 nanoparticle-films indicated the formation of agglomerates. The size distribution of the agglomerates was measured to be log-normal, i.e. similar to the size distribution of the gas-phase nanoparticles forming the deposit. By simulations we could relatively well reproduce this observation. The agglomerates exhibited high thermal stability below 250°C when considering their size, implying that these porous films can be useful in applications involving elevated temperatures in the 250°C range. The appearance of the nanoparticles in the tapping-mode AFM images was sensitive to the free amplitude of the oscillating tip. We could show by model calculations that the high adhesion between the tip and the sample could account for some of these observations.

[pt] Este estudo trata de processos da fragmentação molecular de água no estado gasoso pelo impacto de feixes energéticos de fótons, H+ e Li3+. As seções de choque absolutas de ionização foram obtidas para os feixes de Li3+, H+ e de fótons. As seções de choque do canal de captura eletrônica, obtidas para o feixe de Li3+, foram investigadas visando determinar as diferenças na fragmentação molecular induzidas pelo processo de transfêrencia de carga ao projétil. O intervalo de energia utilizado nas medidas com o feixe de Li3+ foi de 750 a 5800 keV, enquanto para o feixe de prótons foi selecionada a regiao de energia entre 300 até 2000 keV, mantendo uma faixa de velocidades similar. No caso dos fótons, as fragmentações foram medidas no intervalo de energia de 38 a 170 eV. Para a obtenção dos valores de seção de choque de ionização e de captura, foi aplicado um método para a correção do número de eventos simples (íon + neutro) e pares iônicos. A partir desse método foi possível avaliar a influência desta correção nos valores de seção de choque de ionização. A partir dos valores de frações de fragmentação por impacto de prótons foram desenvolvidas curvas teóricas de seção de choque para produção dos pares iônicos H++OH+ e H++O+. Os resultados obtidos de seção de choque de ionização de pares iônicos foram determinados a partir de resultados teóricos de seções de choque de produção dos fragmentos OH+, O+ e H+ disponíveis na literatura. Os resultados foram comparados e concordam com os valores experimentais para impacto de prótons, obtidos neste trabalho, e com dados para impacto de elétrons disponíveis na literatura. / [en] This study aims to contribute for the understanding of the water molecule multiple ionization by impact of photons, protons and Li3+ ions. The technique selected for such research is Time-of-Flight Spectroscopy of the ions produced as a consequence of the molecular dissociation. Absolute and partial ionization cross sections are obtained for impact with each of these three projectiles. For Li3+ beam, absolute and partial capture cross sections are also obtained. The energy range employed was 38-170 eV for photons beams, 300-2000 keV for H+ beams and 750 up to 5800 keV for Li3+ beams. Corrections for ionization cross section determination are usually necessary. Methods for this were developed and applied to the current data. Values for these corrections are presented and discussed. The obtained results are compared with literature data, exhibiting unexpected features. As an example, the production rates of OH+ and H+ fragments by two beams (photons and electrons) having a very different nature are very similar behavior. The data from the water molecule fragmentation by H+ beam enabled the determination of fragmentation factors. The knowledge of these factors made possible to calculate, using a method developed in this work and also theoretical data from literature based on production data of OH+, O+ and H+, new theoretical curves concerning pair production (H+ + OH+ and H+O+).