Plasma Assisted Material Research

Plasma Physics Laboratory

University of Saskatchewan

http://plasma.usask.ca

 

Faculty

 

M. Bradley (michael.bradley@usask.ca)

           Surface modification by ion implantation

           Photonic material fabrication by ion implantation

           Light emitting nanostructures in silicon

 

A. Hirose (CRC T1) (akira.hirose@usask.ca)

Synthesis and applications of CNT (carbon nanotubes)

Coating of DLC (diamond-like-carbon) on biomedical polymers

Synthesis and applications of diamond nanostructures

Diamond coating on metal alloys with and without interlayers

Ceramic interlayers for diamond coating on metals

Nanowires and nanoparticles

Plasma diagnostics

 

C. Xiao (chijin.xiao@usask.ca)

Synthesis and applications of CNT (carbon nanotubes)

Synthesis and applications of diamond nanostructures

FEE (field electron emission) from diamond nanostructures

Plasma diagnostics

 

Q. Yang (CRC T2, Mechanical Engineering) (qiaoqin.yang@usask.ca)          

           Functional gradient hard coatings

Nanostructured composite hard coatings

Novel diamond like superhard coatings

           Plasma and ion beam modification of polymers

            Advanced ceramics and composites

Friction, wear and corrosion

Tribological and corrosive protection applications

Biomedical applications

 

PDF

 

Y. Li (YUL088@mail.usask.ca)

PECVD preparation of oxide/nitride/carbide monolithic, composite and graded

     films

           TiN-based, amorphous SiNx-enhanced super-hard nanocomposite films

Mullite anticorrosion coating

TiC-based carbides and TiO2-based oxide multi-component composite films

           Diamond coating on steel alloys

A.R. Pal (January 2007)

           Control of sheath in plasma reactors by ion and electron beams

           Instabilities in magnetrons driven by E B motion

           Sheath characteristics in the presence of negative ions

 

Research Engineer

 

D. McColl (P.Eng.) (david.mccoll@usask.ca)

           PPL Manager

           Maintenance of plasma reactors

 

Graduate Students

 

M. Risch: Bandstructure engineering of porous Si

M. Foursa: DLC coating on biomedical polymers

W. Chen: Diamond coating on steels, tungsten nanorods

X. Lu: FEE properties of diamond thin films

S. Yang (Mechanical Engineering): Synthesis of nano-crystalline diamond thin films

Y. Tang (Mechanical Engineering): Diamond nanocone and its composite films

W. Yi (Mechanical Engineering): Friction and wear behavior of diamond-like superhard

      films

S. Sethuraman (Mechanical Engineering): Diamond-like nanocomposite films

H. Li: Electron energy distribution functions in inductively coupled plasmas (completed

     August 2006)

 

Plasma Reactors

 

Microwave Plasma CVD Reactor (CFI)

Inductively Coupled Plasma CVD Reactor (CFI)

Hot Filament Plasma CVD Reactor

Arc Discharge Plasma CVD Reactor

Ion Implantation ICP Reactor (CFI. Bradley)

 

Surface Analyses

 

SEM (Geological Science)

TEM (Mechanical Engineering)

Nano-indentometer (Mechanical Engineering)

Raman, AFM, Fluorescence spectroscopy, XRD at SSSC

XAS at CLS and other synchrotron facilities

 

Sample Photographs

 

Electric field aligned growth of carbon nanotubes


 

Carbon nanotubes have been observed to grow along the direction of local electric field which is not normal to the substrate at the edge. SEM images showing CNTs at different locations on a negatively biased substrate: (a)  top-left corner,  (b) top edge,  (c) top-right corner,   (d) left edge, (e) center, (f) right edge, (g) bottom-left corner, (h) bottom edge,  (i) bottom-right corner.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nanocones of diamond and related materials

SEM images of nanocone thin films grown under different deposition conditions (a) daimaond, (b) graphite, (c) diamond and graphite composite). Each cone has a nanosize sharp tip and micron size root. Field electron emission (FEE) properties have been investigated.

 

 

Diamond coating on steel alloys

Surface images of diamond films grown for 4 h on Fe-15Cr (a) and Fe-15Cr-5Al (b). Figure (c) shows the morphologies of diamond films grown on Fe-15Cr-5Al for 12 h at different magnifications. Raman spectra corresponding to the above three surfaces are presented in (d).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synthesis of  Tungsten Nanorods

 

 

SEM of morphology change with the tungsten hot filament temperatures. (a) at 1600 C; (b) at 1940 C; (c) at 2000 C; (d) at 2160 C.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Light emission from porous (nano-void) silicon

 

 

 

Electroluminescence Spectra of Bandstructure-Engineered Silicon

Recent Publications

2006

M.P. Bradley and J.T. Steenkamp, “Time-resolved Ion and Electron Current Measurements in Pulsed Plasma Sheaths,” IEEE Trans. Plasma Science 34, 1156-1159 (2006).

X. Lu,  Q. Yang, W. Chen, C. Xiao, A. Hirose, “Field electron emission characteristics of diamond films with different grain morphologies,” Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology B  (in press)

C. Xiao, S. J. Livingstone, A. K. Singh, D. Raju, G. St. Germaine, D. Liu, C. Boucher, A. Hirose, “Short Wavelength Density and Low Frequency MHD Fluctuation Measurements in the STOR-M Tokamak,” IAEA Fusion Energy 2006, Paper No. EX/P4-31.

Y.S. Li, S. Shimada, H. Kiyono, X. Lu and A. Hirose, “Mechanical and field emission properties of CGedSi(C, N) films synthesized by PECVD from HMDS precursors,” Diamond and Related Materials (in press).

Y.S. Li, S. Shimada, and A. Hirose, “Synthesis of Al2O3-SiO2 films by Ar/O2 plasma enhanced CVD from alkoxide precursors,” Chemical Vapor Deposition (In press).

Q. Yang, S.N. Yang, C. Xiao, and A. Hirose, “Transformation of carbon nanotubes to diamond in microwave hydrogen plasma,” Material Letters (in press).

W. Chen, X. Lu, Q. Yang, C. Xiao, R. Sammynaiken, J. Manly, and A. Hirose, “Effects of gas flow rate on diamond deposition in a microwave plasma reactor,” Thin Solid Films (in press).

X. Lu, Q. Yang, C. Xiao, and A. Hirose, “Nonlinear Fowler-Nordheim plots of the field electron emission from graphitic nanocones: influence of nonuniform field enhancement factors,” Journal of Physics D: Applied Physics 39, 3375-3379 (2006).

W. Chen, C. Xiao, Q. Yang, S. Yang, and A. Hirose, “Controlled synthesis of tungsten and tungsten oxide nanorod films,” Materials Research Innovations 10, 169-178 (2006).

A. Hirose, C. Xiao, O. Mitarai, J. Morelli, H.M. Skarsgard, “STOR-M tokamak design and instrumentation,” Physics in Canada 62, 111-120 (2006) (invited paper).

D. Liu, C. Xiao, A.K. Singh, and A. Hirose, “Bench test and preliminary results of vertical compact torus injection experiments on the STOR-M tokamak,” Nuclear Fusion 46, 104-109 (2006).

X. Lu, Q. Yang, C. Xiao, and A. Hirose, “Field electron emission of carbon-based nanocone films,” Applied Physics A - Materials and Processing 82, 293-296 (2006).

Q. Yang, T. Hamilton, C. Xiao, A. Hirose, and A. Moewes, “Plasma-enhanced synthesis of diamond nanocone films,” Thin Solid Films 494, 110-115 (2006).

Q. Yang, T. Senda, and A. Hirose, “Sliding wear behavior of WC-12%Co coatings at elevated temperatures,” Surface and Coatings Technology 200, 4208-4212 (2006).

2005

A. Hirose, S. Livingstone, and A.K. Singh, “On q dependence of thermal transport in tokamaks,” Nuclear Fusion 45, 1628-1633 (2005).

Q. Yang, W. Chen, C. Xiao, A. Hirose, and R. Sammynaiken, “Simultaneous Growth of Well-aligned Diamond and Graphitic Carbon Nanostructures through Graphite Etching,” Diamond and Related Materials 14, 1683-1687 (2005).

M.P. Gryaznevich, E. Del Bosco, A. Malaquias, G. Mank, G. von Oost, Y. He, H. Hegazy, M. Hron, A. Hirose, B. Kuteev, G.O. Ludwig, I.C. Mascimento, C. Silva, and G.M. Yorobyev, “Joint research using small tokamaks,” Nuclear fusion 45, 1-10 (2005).

W. Chen, C. Xiao, Q. Yang, A. Moewes, and A. Hirose, “The effects of bias polarity on diamond deposition by hot-filament chemical vapor deposition,” Canadian Journal of Physics 83, 753-759 (2005).

Q. Yang, W. Chen, C. Xiao, A. Hirose, and M. Bradley, “Low temperature synthesis of diamond thin films through graphite etching in a microwave hydrogen plasma,” Carbon 43, 2635-2638 (2005).

C.J. Xiao, D. Liu, S. Livingstone, A.K. Singh, E. Zhang, A. Hirose “Tangential and vertical compact torus injection experiments on the STOR-M tokamak,” Plasma Science and Technology 7, 2701-2704 (2005).

Q. Yang, C.J. Xiao, and A. Hirose, “Plasma enhanced deposition of nano-structured carbon films,” Plasma Science and Technology 7, 2660-2664 (2005).

Q. Yang, W. Chen, C. Xiao, R. Sammynaiken, and A. Hirose, “Synthesis of diamond films and nanotips through graphite etching,” Carbon 43, 748-754 (2005).

2004

P. Franz , L. Marrelli, P. Piovesan, B.E. Chapman, P. Martin, I. Predebon, G. Spizzo, R.B. White, and C. Xiao, “Observations of multiple magnetic islands in the core of a reversed field pinch,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 125001 (2004).

D. Liu, C. Xiao, A. K. Singh, and A. Hirose, “Vertical Injection of Compact Torus into the STOR-M Tokamak,” 20th IAEA Fusion Energy Conference, Vilamoura , Portugal , Nov. 1-6, 2004 , (IAEA, Vienna ), Paper No. FT/P6-38.

A. Hirose, “On q dependence of thermal transport in tokamaks,” 20th IAEA Fusion Energy Conference, Vilamoura , Portugal , Nov. 1-6, 2004 , (IAEA, Vienna ), Paper No. TH/P6-4.

B. Waduwawwatte, B.C. Si, and C.J. Xiao, “Water Conduction Porosity from Tension Infiltrometer Measurements,” Soil Sci. Society of Am. J. 68, 760-769 (2004).

A. Ito, A. Hirose, S. Mahajan , and S. Ohsaki, “Remarks on discrete Alfven wave spectra induced by the Hall current,” Physics of Plasmas 11, 5643-5648 (2004).

A. Hirose, A. Ito, S. Mahajan, and S. Ohsaki, “Relation between Hall magneto-hydrodynamics and kinetic Alfven waves,” Physics Letters A 330, 474-480 (2004)

Q. Yang, T. Senda, N. Kotani , and A. Hirose, “Sliding Wear Behavior and Tribofilm Formation of Ceramics at High Temperatures,” Surface and Coatings Technology 184, 270-277 (2004).

A. Ito and A. Hirose, “Eigenmode of ion acoustic instability in the presence of sheared parallel flow,” Physics of Plasmas 11, 23-27 (2004).

A.K. Singh, R. Kaur, S.K. Mattoo, and A. Hirose, “Observation of radial propagation of electrostatic fluctuations in toroidal plasma,” Physics of Plasmas 11, 328-331 (2004).

A. Hirose, “Short wavelength temperature gradient modes in tokamaks,” Recent Research Development in Plasmas 3, 1-21 (2004). (invited review paper)

J.E. Morelli, A. Hirose, and H.C. Wood, “Fuzzy logic based plasma position controller for STOR-M,” IEEE Transactions on Control Systems Technology 13, 328-337 (2005).

A. Hirose, H. Li, S. Livingstone, and X.F. Lu, “On diffraction of electromagnetic waves by an aperture in a conducting screen,” Canadian Journal of Physics 82, 495-500 (2004).

C. Xiao, A. Hirose, and S. Sen, “Improved confinement induced by tangential injection of compact torus into the STOR-M tokamak,” Physics of Plasmas 11, 4041-4049 (2004).

A. Hirose, “Electron thermal diffusivity due to the electron temperature gradient mode,” Physical Review Letters 92, 025001 (2004).

A. Hirose, D. Liu, and S. Livingstone, “Effects of charge nonneutrality and finite beta on the electron temperature gradient modes in tokamaks,” Canadian Journal of Physics 82, 167-176 (2004).

V.N. Vasilets, A. Hirose, Q. Yang, A. Singh, R. Sammynaiken, M. Foursa, and Y.M. Shulga, “Characterization of doped diamond-like carbon films deposited by hot wire plasma sputtering of graphite,” Applied Physics A 79, 2079-2084 (2004).

V.N. Vasilets, A. Hirose, Q. Yang, A. Singh, R. Sammynaiken, Yu.M. Shulga, A.V. Kuznetsov, and V.I. Sevastianov, “Hot wire plasma deposition of doped DLC films on fluorocarbon polymers for biomedical applications,” in Plasma Processes and Polymers,  Chapter 5,  Plasma Deposition of Thin Films, edited by R. d’Agostino, P. Favia, C. Oehr, and M. R, Wertheimer, (Wiley-VCH, Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim, Germany, 2005), p. 65.

Q. Yang, C. Xiao, W. Chen, and A. Hirose, “Selective growth of diamond and carbon nanostructures by hot filament chemical vapor deposition,” Diamond and Related Materials 13, 433-437 (2004).

2003

S. Qin, M.P. Bradley, P.L. Kellerman, “Faraday Dosimetry Characteristics of PIII Doping Processes,” IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science 31, 369-376 (2003).

P. Martin, L. Marrelli, G. Spizzo, P. Franz, P. Piovesan, I. Predebon, T. Bolzonella, S. Cappello, A. Cravotta, D.F. Escande, L. Frassinetti, S. Ortolani, R. Paccagnella, D. Terranova, the RFX team, B.E. Chapman, D. Craig, S.C. Prager, J.S. Sarff, the MST team, P. Brunsell, J.-A. Malmberg, J. Drake, the EXTRAP T2R team, Y. Yagi, H. Koguchi, Y. Hirano, the TPE-RX team, R.B. White, C. Sovinec, C. Xiao, R.A. Nebel and D.D. Schnack,  “Overview of Quasi Single Helicity Experiments in Reversed Field Pinches,” Nucl. Fusion, 43, 1855-1862 (2003).

J.S. Sarff, A.F. Almagri, J.K. Anderson, T.M. Biewer, A.P. Blair, M. Cengher, B.E. Chapman, P.K. Chattopadhyay, D. Craig, D.J. Den Hartog, F. Ebrahimi, G. Fiksel, C.B. Forest, J.A. Goetz, D. Holly, B. Hudson, T.W. Lovell, K.J. McCollam, P.D. Nonn, R. O’Connell, S.P. Oliva, S.C. Prager, J.C. Reardon, M.A. Thomas, M.D. Wyman, D.L. Brower, W.X. Ding, S.D. Terry, M.D. Carter, V.I. Davydenko, A.A. Ivanov, R.W. Harvey, R.I. Pinsker, C. Xiao, “Tokamak-like confinement at high beta and low toroidal field in the MST Reversed Field Pinch,” Nucl. Fusion, 43, 1684-1692 (2003).

C. Xiao, P. Franz, B.E. Chapman, D. Craig, W.X. Ding, G. Gadani, L. Marrelli, P. Martin, R. Pasqualotto, G. Spizzo, J.S. Sarff, S.D. Terry, “Soft-x-ray Emission, Plasma Equilibrium, and Fluctuation Studies on MST,” Rev. Sci. Instrum., 74, 2157-2160 (2003).

P. Franz, G.Gadani, R.Pasqualotto, L.Marrelli, P.Martin, G.Spizzo, P.Brunsell, B.Chapman, F.Paganucci, P.Rossetti, C. Xiao, “Compact soft x-ray multichord camera: design and initial operation,” 2002, Rev. Sci. Instrum., 74, 2152-2156 (2003).

Q. Yang, C. Xiao, W. Chen, A. K. Singh, T. Asai and A. Hirose, “Growth mechanism and orientation control of well-aligned carbon nanotubes,” Diamond and Related Materials 12, 1482-1487 (2003).

A. V. Sokolov, E. Z. Kurmaev, S. Leitch, A. Moewes, J. Kortus, L. D. Finkelstein, N. A. Skorikov, C. Xiao, and A. Hirose, “Band dispersion of MgB2, graphite and diamond from resonant inelastic scattering,” Journal of Physics-Condensed Matter 15, 2081-2089 (2003).

A. Hirose and M. Elia, “Kinetic ballooning stability of internal transport barriers in tokamaks,” Physics of Plasmas 10, 1195-1198 (2003).

A. Hirose, K. Edler, E. Bolster, and O. Ishihara, “Electron velocity diffusion in strong turbulence,” IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science 31, 3-6 (2003).

A. Hirose and M. Elia, “Electron temperature gradient driven skin size drift mode in tokamaks,” Plasma Physics and Controlled Fusion 45, L1-L7 (2003).

A. K. Singh, J. Morelli, T. Asai, and A. Hirose, “Measurement of radial propagation of electrostatic fluctuations in the STOR-M tokamak,” Physics of Plasmas 10, 3451-3454 (2003).

A. Hirose, “Effects of charge non-neutrality and finite beta on the electron temperature gradient mode,” Physics of Plasmas 10, 4567-4569 (2003).

2002

M.P. Bradley, “High Voltage Breakdown in Vacuum: Physical Mechanisms and Engineering Design Rules,” Axcelis Technologies Internal Engineering Design Guideline (2002).

S. Qin, M.P. Bradley, P.L. Kellerman, K. Saadatmand, “Measurements of secondary electron emission and plasma density enhancement for plasma exposed surfaces using an optically isolated Faraday cup,” Rev. Sci. Inst. 73, 1153-1156 (2002).

P.L. Kellerman, V. Benveniste, M.P. Bradley, K. Saadatmand, “Particle trapping and annihilation within the extraction system of ion sources,” Rev. Sci. Inst. 73, 834-836 (2002).

P.L. Kellerman, S. Qin, M.P. Bradley, K. Saadatmand, “Ion depletion effects in sheath dynamics during plasma immersion ion implantation- models and data,” Rev. Sci. Inst. 73, 837-839 (2002).

S. Qin, M.P. Bradley, P.L. Kellerman, K. Saadatmand, “Measurement and analysis of deposition-etch characteristics of BF3 plasma immersion ion implantation,” Rev. Sci. Inst. 73, 840-842 (2002).

P.L. Kellerman, M.P. Bradley, and S. Qin, “Active Charge Control in PIII- enlarging the process space,” Surface and Coatings Technology 156, 77-82 (2002).

P. Martin, L. Marrelli, G. Spizzo, P. Franz, P. Piovesan, I. Predebon, T. Bolzonella, S. Cappello, A. Cravotta, D.F. Escande, L. Frassinetti, S. Ortolani, R. Paccagnella, D. Terranova and the RFX team, B.E. Chapman, D. Craig, S.C. Prager, J.S. Sarff and the MST team,P. Brunsell, J.-A. Malmberg, J. Drake and the EXTRAP T2R team, Y. Yagi, H. Koguchi, Y. Hirano and the TPE-RX team, R.B. White, C. Sovinec, C. Xiao, R.A. Nebel, D.D. Schnack, “Overview of Quasi Single Helicity Experiments in Reversed Field Pinches,” Fusion Energy 2002, Paper No. EX/C1-2.

J.S. Sarff, A.F. Almagri, J.K. Anderson, T.M. Biewer, A.P. Blair, D.L. Brower, M.D. Carter, M. Cengher, B.E. Chapman, P.K. Chattopadhyay, V.I. Davydenko, D.J. Den Hartog, W.X. Ding, F. Ebrahimi, G. Fikse, C.B. Forest, J.A. Goetz, R.W. Harvey, D. Holly, B. Hudson, A.A. Ivanov, T.W. Lovell, K.J. McCollam, P.D. Nonn, R. O’Connell, S.P. Oliva, R.I. Pinsker, S.C. Prager, J.C. Reardon, S.D. Terry, M.A. Thomas, M.D. Wyman, C. Xiao, and the MST Team, “Overview of Improved Confinement and Plasma Control in the MST Reversed Field Pinch,” 2002, Fusion Energy 2002, Paper No. OV4-3.

A. Hirose and M. Elia, “Integral equation analysis of the kinetic ballooning modes in tokamaks,” Canadian Journal of Physics 80, 1517-1523 (2002). 

A. Hirose, M. Elia, A. Smolyakov, and M. Yagi, “Short wavelength temperature gradient driven modes in tokamaks,” Physics of Plasmas 9, 1659-1666 (2002).

A. Hirose and M. Elia, “Integral equation based stability analysis of short wavelength drift modes in tokamaks,” in Proceedings of IAEA International Conference on Fusion Energy 2002, Paper No. TH/P1-06   

C. Xiao, J. Morelli, A. Singh, O. Mitarai, T. Asai, and A. Hirose, “Study of plasma equilibrium during the ac current reversal phase in the STOR-M tokamak,”  Fusion Energy 2002, Paper No. EX/P1-18

A. Hirose and M. Elia, “Short wavelength temperature gradient gradient driven modes in tokamaks II: Electron mode,” Physics of Plasmas 9, 4664-4670 (2002).

A. Hirose, “Comments on ‘A mathematical error in the Lienard-Wiechert potentials’ by J. P. Wesley, Physics Essays 13, December 2000,” Physics Essays 14, 177-179 (2002).

S. Sen, C. Xiao, A. Hirose, and R. Cairns, “Role of parallel flow in the improved confinement mode on the STOR-M tokamak,” Physical Review Letters 88, 185001 (2002).

A. Hirose and M. Elia, “Finite beta destabilization of skin size drift modes in tokamaks,” Physica Scripta 65, 257-260 (2002).

A. Hirose, “On transition radiation II,” Radiation Physics and Chemistry 64, 261-266 (2002).

A. Hirose, K. Edler, and O. Ishihara, “Long time behaviour of plasma diffusion in strong turbulence,” Physica Scripta 65, 261-263 (2002).