Ternary transition metal carbides with inherently nanolaminated crystal structure are a class of materials with typically higher damage tolerance, better machinability and lower brittleness compared to the binary counterparts, yet retaining their satisfactory electrical and thermal conductivity. Their interesting properties can be related to the laminated structure. Though studies of their properties based on calculations and bulk materials have suggested potential thin film applications, such as high temperature hard coatings and electrical contacts, a relatively small number of these phases have been synthesized as thin films.  Investigation of thin film deposition of these inherently nanolaminated materials further the understanding of their phase formation and crystal growth. Motivated by predicted superconductivity and thermoelectric properties of molybdenum carbides and related layered molybdenum compounds, nanolaminated materials in the Mo-Ga-C ternary system were studied. Apart from the previously reported Mo2GaC, a new layered carbide, Mo2Ga2C, was synthesized in both thin film and bulk form with a postulated crystal structure related to Mo2GaC. The proposed structure was further validated by first principles calculations, showing higher stability compared to other crystal structure as well as other competing phases. The calculated lattice parameters were consistent with values from Rietveld analysis of X-ray and neutron diffraction patterns. In addition, both scanning transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed experimental evidence of the close structural-chemical relation between Mo2Ga2C and Mo2GaC. Driven by a need of high temperature protective coatings in nuclear applications, Zr-based nanolaminated carbides have become more attractive. In this work, another nanolaminated carbide, Zr2Al3C4, was synthesized in thin film form by pulsed cathodic arc deposition. Formation of the Zr2Al3C4 phase and its competing phases was studied with X-ray diffraction of thin films deposited with varying incoming flux compositions, temperatures and substrate materials. On 4H-SiC(001) substrates, highly phase-pure epitaxial Zr2Al3C4 films were formed, whereas depositions on Al2O3(001) substrates resulted in competing phases. A growth behavior similar to that of nanolaminated Mn+1AXn phases (M is a group 3-7 transition metal; A is commonly a group 13-14 element; X is C or N; n = 1 - 3) was observed, despite the structuraland chemical differences between Zr2Al3C4 and MAX phases. / <p>The series name <em>Linköping Studies in Science and Technology Licentiate Thesis</em> is incorrect. Correct series name is <em>Linköping Studies in Science and Technology. Thesis</em>.</p>

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This work treats three topics. The main topic concerns neutron-induced fission of 234U. The main goal is to investigate the fission-fragments properties  as a function of the incident neutron energy. The study was carried out using a twin Frisch-grid ionization chamber. The first fluctuations on fragment properties are presented, in terms of strong angular anisotropy oscillation. The second part of the work treats the data-acquisition systems in use, particularly for neutron-induced fission experiments. Modern digital systems are studied and compared with the conventional analogue systems. It was shown that the digital systems are superior in drift stability, pile-up correction and extended the possibilities of offline analysis. The third part of the work concerns the Frisch-grid inefficiency. The Frisch grid was introduced in the chamber to remove the angular dependency from the induced charge. However, the shielding is not perfect and a correction is needed for the small angular dependency. Two contradicting methods have been presented in literature, one adding, and the second subtracting the angular-dependent part from the detected signal. An experiment with Cf(sf) was designed and performed to solve the pending ambiguity. The results support the additive model.

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