Thermally driven shape instabilities of Nb/Cu multilayer structures: instability of Nb/Cu multilayers

Authors
Troche, P Hoffmann, J Heinemann, K Hartung, F Schmitz, G Freyhardt, HC Rudolph, D Thieme, J Guttmann, P
Citation
P. Troche et al., Thermally driven shape instabilities of Nb/Cu multilayer structures: instability of Nb/Cu multilayers, THIN SOL FI, 353(1-2), 1999, pp. 33-39
Citations number
10
Categorie Soggetti
Apllied Physucs/Condensed Matter/Materiales Science","Material Science & Engineering
Journal title
THIN SOLID FILMS
ISSN journal
00406090 → ACNP
Volume
353
Issue
1-2
Year of publication
1999
Pages
33 - 39
Database
ISI
SICI code
0040-6090(19990929)353:1-2<33:TDSION>2.0.ZU;2-D
Abstract
The disintegration of Nb layers in Nb/Cu multilayers during heat treatments was investigated by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electro n microscopy (TEM), and X-ray microscopy (XRM). Spherically shaped Nb parti cles were observed after a heat treatment at 870 K for 3 h. The growth velo city of the Nb particles depends strongly on the initial interface roughnes s and the Nb layer thickness. The XRM investigations indicate a process of self-assembly, leading to a non-statistical distribution of the particles. Measurements of the superconducting properties of both annealed and non-ann ealed samples, confirm the microstructural observations. (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.