Ion track formation and porosity in InSb induced by swift heavy ion irradiation

Abstract

Ion track formation, irradiation-induced damage (amorphization), and the formation of porosity in InSb after 185 MeV 197Au swift heavy ion irradiation are studied as a function of ion fluence and irradiation angle. Rutherford backscattering spectrometry in channeling geometry reveals an ion track radius of about 16 nm for irradiation normal to the surface and 21 nm for off-normal irradiation at 30° and 60°. Cross-sectional scanning electron microscopy shows significant porosity that increases when irradiation was performed off-normal to the surface. Off-normal irradiation shows a preferential orientation of the pores at about 45° relative to the surface normal. Moreover, when subjected to identical conditions, InSb samples demonstrate notably higher swelling compared to GaSb bulk samples.