STUDY OF FORMATION OF DEFECTS/DEFECT CLUSTERS IN NICKEL NANOWIRES

Abstract

In this paper, formation of defects/defect clusters in nickel nanowires (Ni-NWs) due to interaction of a 60 kilo-electron-volt (keV) beam of proton (H[Formula: see text] ions is studied. Ni-NWs are exposed to various fluencies of H[Formula: see text] ions ranging between [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]ions/cm2. The analysis of pristine and H[Formula: see text] ion-irradiated Ni-NWs samples is mainly done using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. Stopping range of ions in matter (SRIM) simulation software is employed to verify the production of defect clusters in Ni-NWs theoretically. Furthermore, insight of creation of defects in Ni-NWs due to interaction of low energy H[Formula: see text] ions in keV range is made using the theory of collision cascade effect. The study of defect clusters induced in Ni-NWs under H[Formula: see text] ions beam irradiation is essential for application of Ni-NW-based nanodevices in harsh environment containing plenty of H[Formula: see text] ions such as for use in spacecraft equipped for space missions.