Charge and elemental composition of plasma generated by sputtering of powder target from amorphous boron

One of the effective and widespread methods of surface hardening of metal products is an ion-plasma saturation of the surface of machine parts and mechanisms with various elements (nitrogen, oxygen, carbon). Less investigated method is the process of ion-plasma saturation of the metals and alloys surface with boron. The purpose of the present work is to develop a method for the formation and study of parameters (electron temperature, plasma potential and concentration), elemental and charge composition of plasma generated at sputtering of a target from amorphous boron powder. To achieve the stated goal, a discharge system with a hot anode made of powder boron, as well as a pulse arc evaporator with a hot cathode made of sintered boron powder, was developed, designed, created and tested. Charge and elemental composition of boron-containing plasma generated during powder target sputtering from amorphous boron are defined by optical spectrometry method. It is shown that the generated plasma contains mainly neutral atoms and single-charge boron ions, as well as iron, silicon, copper and argon particles.

Deposition of boron films using a discharge system with a hot boron anode

This work describes a discharge system for heating and evaporation of a boron powder target based on a non-self-sustained arc discharge with a filament, a hollow cathode and a hot combined anode. The measurements of the current-voltage characteristics of the discharge with a hot anode and the dependence of the anode temperature on the discharge parameters are presented. The modes of deposition of boron films have been determined.

Insights into the Mixed Oxide Thin Film Cathodes of LiCoO2, LiMn2O4 and TiO2 Deposited from Powder Target

The present work describes the preparation of mixed oxide powder target of LiCoO2, LiMn2O4 and preparation of thin films. Electrochemical investigations have been carried out in the potential range 2.0–4.3 V with respect to Li. There after TiO2 mesoporous (2–50 nm) powder was also added to the above composition and deposited thin films. XRD, XPS and electrochemical characterisation have been carried out for thin film cathodes. The potential window as well as discharge capacity enhanced after TiO2 doping to the mixed oxide target of LiCoO2 and LiMn2O4. Electrochemical characterization have been carried out in potential range 1.4–4.5 V, delivered a discharge capacity of 137 μAh μm−1 cm−2. The deposited cathode thin films will be a good choice as electrodes for high voltage solid state batteries.